No Child Left Behind - opinions?

[matthew&haleysmom]

Thanks for the info! That IEP was about 15 pages long and hard as heck to figure out due to different acronyms and test names. Our standardized test here not only has multiple choice questions, but it also has written responses, including the drawing of graphs, tables, etc... Those are even more frustrating for the kids with LD because they at least have a small chance of guessing correctly on the multiple choice questions. In order for a child to take an alternate assessment he/she has to meet certain criteria which this transfer student certainly did not meet. That's why I was wondering.

As far as NCLB, it's not even mathematically possible to have everyone performing in the 99th percentile. The test would have been re-normed well before this could even happen.

I've seen the test that one of the private schools gives out here (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) and must say that that test is way easier than the standardized test that the public school kids have to take.

FYI - If the IEP stated VAAP, the student would not be on the standard curriculum. These students can only be 1% of the population. They work on aligned standards in conjunction with functional and life skills.

 

[Goofyluver]

If you were to opt out in our school system, our teacher would look like this too! For us, this would be a double whammy - a failing test score, and a non-participation.

DD, 8, is twice exceptional. She has a bilateral hearing loss and is identified gifted. She also does accelerated curriculum. She is actually excited to take the SOLs this year! Her principal told me she is so glad DD will be testing this year. She has a 504 and her scores will help with the schools AYP.

I do feel fortunate that she has wonderful teachers that actually differentiates the curriculum. Also, she loves school.

It will be a double whammy here as well. Sorry for them...well, not really. When they make the testing situation fair for all children, and allow sped children to test at their ability level and not at grade level, then we can talk.

I'm actually an SLP...so I have worked with many a hearing impaired student. Some of my favorite kiddos.

 

[JimFitz]

I'm not particularly a fan of NCLB, but the problem goes deeper than just this law. Since the inception of the Federal Education Department our schools have been in a steady decline.

So don't just get rid of a bad Law, get rid of a bad Federal Department. Send the education decisions back to the states where they belong.

Amen!

 

[BrerMom]

I also think it is incredibly stupid to have end of course exams in March, two full months before the end of the course! But, that's just my opinion, and I'm not an educator.

It could be worse. We finish school in the middle of June and return Labor Day weekend. When are our tests? October.

I felt so sorry for one of our special ed teachers this year. She had several kids that had to have their tests read out loud to them. No problem, she was glad to do it. The problem was that the rules stipulated that it had to be one-on-one. She had to read the same stupid test individually to 18 different kids. The main problem? She wasn't given a substitute, so any kid not taking the test was expected to "behave" while she read the test to the next kid on the schedule.

 

[IDoDis]

FYI - If the IEP stated VAAP, the student would not be on the standard curriculum. These students can only be 1% of the population. They work on aligned standards in conjunction with functional and life skills.

That's why I questioned the IEP. This child certainly can read, write and solve math problems and spends 45% of the school day in gen. ed. The student is 2 years behind academically, but certainly not so much that to take an alternate assessment. I thought that was strange. I'm going to hold an IEP soon.

 

[mfd25wife]

In my school we are now down to Social Studies two periods a week. Why? Because it's not one of the tested subjects. Social Studies periods were replaced with test prep classes and our testing in NJ isn't even until May this year.

And, we have professors at the universities complaining that the students are not ready for college level classes. I can't imagine what person believed it was actually a good idea to leave out Social Studies.

Unfotunately, I know it's a horrible position for the schools. They are graded on those benchmarks, and that dictates so much they feel they have to do what it takes.

 

[agnes!]

NCLB=NCGA
Solve.
NoChildLeftBehind = NoChildGetsAhead

agnes!

 

[JennaTX]

NCLB=NCGA
Solve.
NoChildLeftBehind = NoChildGetsAhead

agnes!

I think that is part of the problem.

If teachers are forced to teach the test, then children on all sides suffer. Those who may be ahead of the class are getting taught stuff they already know, and might be talking and disrupting children that need to learn. Also children who are having problems, are just being taught to pass.

My kids go to a school with the highest "rating" and still two/three weeks before the test, all other subjects get thrown out of the window.

Maybe I am crazy, but can't parents and teachers decide if their children are ready to go to the next grade or not?

I started my DD at 4 in K and I have always been worried about her and talked extensively with her teachers about if she was keeping up and doing good.

If either of my kids could not read or write after K, I would insist they be kept back, and I would probably do the same until at least 5th grade. Making sure that kids can take a test to get money does not in any way help children. If they are having problems in Math in 3rd grade, they will have big problems in 4th grade (I'm having problems helping my 4th grader with math! ).

 

[MM27]

And, we have professors at the universities complaining that the students are not ready for college level classes. I can't imagine what person believed it was actually a good idea to leave out Social Studies.

Unfotunately, I know it's a horrible position for the schools. They are graded on those benchmarks, and that dictates so much they feel they have to do what it takes.

My class has SS on Monday and Wednesday. It is so hard to get the kids to retain anything because after Wednesday's class they have a long break before they get it again. It's not fair to them and we don't cover half of what is in the curriculum because of all the cut periods. When I first started teaching 9 years ago we had one period of SS every day.

If either of my kids could not read or write after K, I would insist they be kept back, and I would probably do the same until at least 5th grade. Making sure that kids can take a test to get money does not in any way help children. If they are having problems in Math in 3rd grade, they will have big problems in 4th grade (I'm having problems helping my 4th grader with math! ).

You have to understand though, that not all parents are like you. I have put in retention papers for several kids and I have only had one child that was ever retained from my class. In my district, if a parent refuses retention, the child goes on to the next grade. I had a boy one year that was far below grade level, severe behavior problems and did little to no work all year. His mother swore that she would get him a tutor in the summer and sure enough he was in 5th grade the next year with the same problems.

Parents do need to sign a letter stating that they are refusing the retention though. It is placed in their cumulative folder so that the parent can't come back later and say we didn't try to help their child.