Evaluation of the Battelle Developmental Inventory, 2nd Edition, Screening Test for Use in States’ Child Outcomes Measurement Systems Under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act

This study evaluated the Battelle Developmental Inventory, 2nd Edition, Screening Test (BDI-2 ST) for use in states’ child outcomes accountability systems under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Complete Battelle Developmental Inventory, 2nd Edition (BDI-2), assessment data were obtained for 142 children, ages 2 to 62 months, who had been referred for eligibility evaluation for early intervention or preschool special education services. Results of a Rasch measurement analysis provided evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the five domain scores and total BDI-2 ST score. A comparison of children’s classifications as either having or not having a developmental delay based on the BDI-2 ST and the BDI-2 full assessment—using cut scores of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 standard deviations below the mean—indicated acceptable sensitivity, specificity, and overall classification accuracy of the BDI-2 ST. Implications of the findings are discussed for accountability reporting and clinical practice.