Assessing the Criterion Validity of Curriculum-Based Measures for Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

Curriculum-based measures (CBMs), which allow educators to monitor progress over time and make instructional decisions based on student performance, represent a fixture of general approaches to reading and data-based instructional frameworks. However, evidence supporting the use of CBM for students with intellectual disabilities is limited. This study evaluated the criterion validity of a reading CBM battery. Multiple CBM and standardized criterion measures were administered to elementary-aged children ( n = 56) with intellectual disabilities. Inferential analyses identified numerous domain-specific correlations between CBM and criterion measures; however, no single CBM emerged as a more effective predictor of reading performance. Findings provide qualified support for the use of CBM with children who have intellectual disabilities.