The Larry P case has significantly influenced the assessment process of professionals working in the California public schools for over the past 30 years. Confusion exists regarding how to conduct effective assessments of African American students. Many terms and approaches related to assessment of this population have been misunderstood, misinterpreted, and misused. This has the potential to lead to assessment practices with reduced reliability and validity. This presentation will emphasize the need for assessment processes based on best practices that are theoretically sound, scientifically validated, and thus legally defensible.
