http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SPECIAL_ED_TESTING?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
>>"...When it comes time to take the standardized tests that the federal government uses to measure public schools, many of Harper's students at White Mountain Middle School merely pick answers at random, not realizing the potentially severe consequences for their school. Across the country this year, thousands of schools were deemed "failing" because of the test performance of special ed students. The results have provoked feelings of fury, helplessness and amusement in teachers like Harper, who say that because of some of their students' disabilities, there is no realistic way to ever meet the expectations of a new federal law backed by the Bush administration that requires that 99 percent of all children be performing at or above grade level by 2014. If schools fail to meet those targets, they risk being taken over by the state or private companies; teachers can lose their jobs.... ...The government is defending the special education portion of the law, though officials said some changes are in the works that would give more leeway to the most seriously disabled children and their teachers. However, the Education Department does not want to let all special education students and their teachers off the hook, said Ronald Tomalis, acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education. "There have been low expectations for some of these children all along," he said. "And that's not because of mental abilities, but because of poor instruction received in the early grades. We need to challenge schools that these children can achieve. Sure, they will need an intensive program, but they can be brought up to grade level." For more seriously disabled children, he said, a proposed change to the law would let 1 percent of all children in a district skip the grade-level exams and instead take a test tailored to their abilities. If they scored well on that alternative, it could be counted in their school's favor..."<< This sounds like one of the stupidest things I've ever heard, and one of my CO collegues with 20 years in speech therapy/special education commented (when I asked if this was true): "It is not only true, it is actually worse than this. Students who are in a persistant vegetative state have been required to take the test from time to time, students who do not yet speak English, students with severe emotional disorders, physical problems, etc. It is absolutely absurd." Debbi __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/ _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
