What type of assessment is the special education teacher conducting by observing a student in various settings?

Observing a student in various settings falls under qualitative assessment. This type of assessment focuses on the qualities and characteristics of a student's performance rather than numerical data. Through qualitative assessment, the teacher gathers insights about the student's behavior, interactions, and learning processes in naturalistic environments. This information can provide a rich understanding of the student's needs, strengths, and challenges, which is particularly crucial in special education for developing personalized support strategies.

Standardized assessments, on the other hand, involve uniform tests that measure performance against a set standard, which would not align with the observational approach. Quantitative assessments rely on numerical data, such as test scores or measurement of performance with specific metrics, while formative assessments are ongoing evaluations meant to monitor student learning and inform instructional strategies. In this context, the observational approach taken by the special education teacher distinctly highlights the qualitative aspect of assessment, making it the most accurate choice.