I have a question to pose to you for a class I am taking. We are doing a presentation on Differentiated Instruction = Differentiated Assessments: Unrealistic expectations of Special Education Students and State Assessments.
So what is your view in regards to Spec. Ed students being required to take NYS assessments with minimal testing accomodations? How about Spec. Ed students and 'No Child Left Behind?' And finally- how about Spec. Ed students being required to take and pass NYS regents exams?
Keep in mind- this is geared more towards students that have more learning disabilities and developmental disabilities, not so much towards students that have mild LD.
Please indicate whether you are a teacher, aide/assistant, administrator, parent, etc . . .
TIA- your insight is greatly appreciated- Fm me if this is more comfortable for you.
Finoflynn
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Re: For those of you involved in Education . . .
There's a loaded question!!!! I happen to have very strong views on this. I teach and have had inclusion classes for three years. I do not think it's fair that LD students have to face state exams w little or no mods.Fm to come!!
TracyInQueens
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Re: For those of you involved in Education . . .
I think it's bad. NCLB is a seriously flawed piece of legislation. The intentions are good but the reality is, there are kids who need those modifications. I used to work as a teacher assistant (10 years ago) and had to administer modifications to kids who needed it- most of them got extended time, but I had to read the test to certain kids as well.
Are IEP diplomas still given? I also worked with kids who were seriously developmentally delayed. I could not imagine any of them taking a Regent's, or even an RCT. We did a lot of life skills work with them- filling out job applications, etc, and even that was a struggle for them.
I am sure there are kids who could pass those tests, but if they're entitled to modifications they should have them.
This is just my opinion; I've been out of the special ed loop for a while, but I think kids should be held to standards they can individually meet, not to broad sweeping ones. Hope this helps.
palebride
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Re: For those of you involved in Education . . .
I think the assessments have good intentions in trying to make sure that all children get an equal education. but there's no way to do that, so it's almost silly to even try. it causes so much stress for the regular ed students who are taking the exams, and puts pressure on the schools and teachers...... as for sepcial ed students, i had an inclusion class last year, and i can't imagine how those children are going to do next year in 8th grade...some of them were so weak and needed so much help. and some of them relied too much on the accomodations they received on a daily basis, and wouldn't be receiving for those tests... and then there are the ESL students who came to this country two years ago and had to learn the language then.....i feel really badly for them!!!!
it's a tough situation! it really really is. i don't know how to answer it, in all honesty.
halloweenbride04
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Re: For those of you involved in Education . . .
From a Guidance Counselor's perspective, these expectations are putting more undue stress on the students who already may have a difficult time coping with issues that cause stress to begin with. The more stress a student, any student, experiences the less focused they will be and the lower they will perform. It's a vicious cycle. IMO.....
BriBri529
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Re: For those of you involved in Education . . .
Thanks for all of your thoughts- they are really so helpful- keep them coming!
Buttafli1277
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Re: For those of you involved in Education . . .
I'm a Speech Therapist in a High School, and a majority of teh students that are LD do get testing mods such as: extended time, use of calculators, test read aloud, etc. I believe that these testing mods do help and benefit the students, but then again, are they going to pass the tests. If the students do NOT pass and regents (which they are all required to take now) or RCT's they will not graduate with a local diploma. They will get an IEP diploma, which they can not go to college with. IMO I do not think it's fair that ALL of teh students have to take Regents, cuz it's really hard for them to pass. I can go more into the topic, but I don't want to bore anyone!!!
prncssrachel
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Re: For those of you involved in Education . . .
I think there is a move in this state towards impersonal education. It's like a blanket of teaching that's supposed to reach all students, and if for some reason, it doesn't reach some students, particularly LD students, then they're the ones that lose out. This is partially the reason I refuse to teach in NY public schools. I believe in a more individualized education. Everyone learns differently, and while there is a large area of common ground, and we do need to appeal to the large group that does learn the same way, I feel like the approach for each student should be modified so that they can be successful. As for state exams, while it's a nice idea that all of these children will be able to pass these exams, it's setting a lot of them up for failure. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that a child who just cannot pass a regents course can only get, basically, a certificate of attendance. I think it's screaming something terrible to students out there. Not everyone is meant to be a scholar, and not everyone who is not a scholar is a complete failure. I think the state has not only wiped the slate of those who really struggle terribly, I think they've turned their backs on those students who could be doing a lot better, but needed that extra help and attention in their education to achieve success. This is a very sore subject with me. I worked in a special ed. school in Massachusetts, where this is a bigger problem, and I saw kids who really could have gone to college had they gotten the attention and approach they needed to learn, but all they got was a certificate of attendance from high school and it basically ruined their chances of getting into an affordable, decent school. Most of them ended up getting low paying jobs and feeling miserable. Ok, sorry for the rant.
