In educational evaluations of students with disabilities, what is the primary role of intelligence testing?

• A. support the design of effective instruction to address the student's individual strengths and needs
• B. offer projective academic achievement outcomes for the student in later years
• C. identify the classroom setting considered the student's least restrictive environment
• D. develop alternative academic standards tailored to the student's level of functioning

Answer: (A)

Intelligence testing is used to shape how a student is taught. By identifying what a student can reason through, hold in working memory, and process quickly, educators can tailor instruction to fit those cognitive strengths and address specific weaknesses. This information helps pick effective instructional strategies, select appropriate accommodations, and set realistic, measurable goals that align with the student’s current functioning and potential growth.

Intelligence tests don’t predict how well a student will achieve in the future or dictate a particular grade-level outcome; that’s what achievement testing and progress monitoring are for. They also aren’t the sole tool for deciding the classroom setting or least restrictive environment, which involves several factors beyond cognitive scores. And they aren’t about creating alternate academic standards; standards are set separately, while intelligence data guide how to teach the student most effectively.