Where did arbitrary cut scores for norm-referenced language assessments come from, and why do they feel “safer” than relying on clinical judgement? I discuss this question and more in this third part of a three-part series, bilingual SLPs Destiny Johnson and Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz join me to continue our conversation about advocating for effective language evaluation practices in schools. Across these conversations, we explore: Sensitivity, specificity, reference standards , and diagnostic accuracy How test development has evolved over time and why this matters Why the same cut-off score shouldn’t apply across all tests The math behind using two norm-referenced tests , and why it may complicate rather than clarify in some cases Other reasons we test beyond diagnosis (treatment planning, severity, monitoring progress) How do we do we to “sell” the concept of dynamic assessment to administrators Case studies that show the pitfalls of over-reliance on standardized scores Misconceptions clinicians often hold, and what they should know about assessment Differences in state eligibility standards , and what this means for service decisions This series is part myth-busting, part practical strategies, and part advocacy playbook—perfect for clinicians who want to move beyond compliance-driven evaluations toward assessments that truly reflect students’ needs. Destiny Johnson, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a bilingual speech-language pathologist (English/Spanish) with a deep passion for culturally responsive assessment and treatment practices, as well as advocating for policy change. She has presented on dynamic assessment at the CSHA Convergence 2024, focusing on the importance of dynamic assessment in bilingual children. Destiny has experience working as a school-based SLP, in private practice, and in early intervention. She is also the founder and CEO of Multimodal Communication Speech Clinic P.C. Connect with Destiny on Instagram @destinyjohnsonslp , on her private practice website here, and on LinkedIn here. Listen to Destiny’s previous episode on De Facto Leaders here: EP 187: Dynamic Assessment: Evaluations are a process, not a test (with Destiny Johnson ) Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz is a bilingual high school SLP from Southern California who has primarily worked in the school systems and has experience at both the elementary and secondary level. She’s also a member of Language Therapy Advance Foundations , and is involved in state and local advocacy work relating to dynamic assessments and special education eligibility. Connect with Tiffany on Instagram @tiffany.shahoumian Listen to Tiffany’s previous episode on De Facto Leaders here: High school language therapy: Do we still have time to make an impact? (with Tiffany Shahoumian-Ruiz) In this episode, I mention Language Therapy Advance Foundations , my program that gives SLPs and other service providers a system for language therapy. You can learn more about the program here. Additional Resources Mentioned in the episode: Daub, O., Cunningham, B. J., Bagatto, M. P., Johnson, A. M., Kwok, E. Y., Smyth, R. E., & Oram Cardy, J. (2021). Adopting a conceptual validity framework for testing in speech-language pathology. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 30 (4), 1894–1908 . https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_AJSLP-20-00032 Spaulding, T. J., Plante, E., & Farinella, K. A. (2006). Eligibility criteria for language impairment: Is the low end of normal always appropriate? Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, 37 (1), 61–72. https://doi.org/10.1044/0161-1461(2006/007) DYMOND Norm-Referenced Dynamic Assessment Bilingual English-Spanish Assessment (BESA) We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more: Simplify and streamline technology Save teachers’ time Reliably meet Tier 1 standards Improve student performance on state assessments 🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.
