What is Stages?
Stages is a seven-level developmental framework that describes a learner's cognitive and language abilities. Stages helps schools comply with alternate assessment mandates by providing an accessible way to assess learners with special needs. Stages also serves as a selection guide for curriculum activities (including both software and off-computer activities). The sequence of seven Stages is based on the work of Madalaine Pugliese, a nationally recognized authority in the fields of assistive and instructional technologies.

The Seven Stages
The Stages framework gives parents, educators and clinicians a common language for reviewing learner progress. The seven Stages are developmental in nature and are not age or grade specific. The appropriate stage for a learner is the one where he or she is challenged, but not overwhelmed or frustrated.

	Stage One - Cause and Effect The learner begins to focus on the target or object on the computer screen.
	Stage Two - Language Readiness The learner explores early language through interactions on the computer.
	Stage Three - Emerging Language The learner gains an understanding of language with an increase in the range of language interactions.
	Stage Four - Early Concepts The learner focuses on traditional academic and social readiness skills such as letter and number recognition, counting, creating patterns, and so on.
	Stage Five - Advanced Concepts and Communication The learner focuses on understanding and using language, and academic concepts.
	Stage Six - Functional Learning The learner practices life skills in readiness for the real event.
	Stage Seven - Written Expression The learner explores and then masters written language.

The Stages framework differs from other developmental sequences, and is more practical, because:

• It is written specifically for learners who we already know are developmentally delayed.
• It is deliberately not referenced chronologically, but in a developmental sequence.
• It is designed around observable and measurable milestones, competencies or behaviors.
• It combines cognition and language skills (as opposed to separating them).
• It describes both software selection strategies and offcomputer activities that address goals and observable characteristics of learners, covering a range of skill areas.

Who Uses Stages?
Stages is designed to help special educators reach learners with developmental language and cognitive challenges. The Stages Assessment Process helps gather information to develop an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). Stages generates competency-based data for learners whose understanding cannot be measured using standard assessment tools or methods. This data can be part of a learner's alternate assessment portfolio.