Classroom Environment and Teaching Assessment (CETA)

Interview about CETA-R

Interview about the CETA: Utilizing the Tool

The Classroom Environment and Teaching Assessment (CETA) is a tool designed to help teachers and school teams proactively explore and strengthen inclusive classroom practices. It supports the creation of effective learning environments for all students, particularly those with higher support needs. 

Educators are encouraged to use the CETA collaboratively with their teams or individually as a self-assessment tool. It can be used to identify current strengths, set priorities for growth, and guide goal setting and progress monitoring when used alongside other data sources.

Benefits of the CETA:

  • Provides a proactive and preventative approach to establishing effective classroom practices.
  • Improves the classroom environment for all students.
  • Aligns with Evidence-Based Practices for Students with Autism, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and High Leverage Practices for Students with Disabilities.
  • Improves access to the least restrictive environment (LRE) through the use of established effective practices. 
  • Serves as a collaborative tool for teaming and decision making through objective discussion of classroom practices.
  • Strengthening classroom practices can reduce the need for high resource practices such as functional behavior assessments.
  • Establishes professional development goals to enhance implementation of classroom practices

Classroom Environment and Teaching Assessment (CETA) in the START Planning and Data System (PDS)

The following tutorial slides will provide you with the steps to access and use the CETA. Select the slides that best suits how you will be interacting with the CETA.

  • CETA Tutorial for ISD Admin Users
    • For users who need to carry out administrative functions (e.g., managing buildings and users) in the system on behalf of an ISD. These users can also participate in the CETA process.
  • CETA Tutorial for District Admin Users
    • For users who need to carry out administrative functions (e.g., managing buildings and users) in the system on behalf of a district. These users can also participate in the CETA process.
  • CETA Tutorial for ISD/District Users
    • For users who want to implement a CETA for their classroom or participate on a classroom team. These users do not have administrative functions (e.g., managing buildings and users) in the system.

Please contact Stephanie Pulido ([email protected]) if you have any questions.



Page last modified November 5, 2025