Originally posted by shortbun
An informal classroom is not the place for a child having behavioral and learning difficulties.
A child with learning difficulties doesn't automatically have behavior issues. They are socially much like their peers they just need different instuction methods.
I'm in Texas and I don't see any good coming out of the policies here. The tests are designed for college bound students. No alternatives for those that might not be ready or able to attend college. They either pass the tests or don't get a HS degree.
I have 2 kids, the oldest is in accelerated programs and has always made A's & B's. She failed a pre-test in 3rd grade and they gave me all this stuff about her being at risk. I wasn't too worried until I found out that if she didn't pass the real test that she might not be promoted to the next grade. I didn't want her to stress about it, told her she really needed to take her time and be careful on the test. She scored the highest possible grade on the real test. What a nightmare it would be for any parent if their child's bad day happens on test day.
My youngest is dyslexic, it is severe enough that she is classifed special education and she will have modifications for the testing. In TX special education is counted a little differently and doesn't impact the school's scores so it is to their benefit that she won't be taking the regular test. Many children with dyslexia or other learning differences are not classified as special education. They have to take the regular tests with no modifications, they are very much at risk to decide that shool is just not worth it.
ESL is not counted for children if they have been in the country less than a year. After 1 year they are considered regular students. This is a change within the last couple of years in TX and has effected many of the school's ratings.
The school my DD's are in now seems to be pretty good at finding a balance of not teaching the test. They still do very well on the ratings but I don't hear as much about the test. My youngest is in 3rd grade and they have started doing practice tests, they will take the test for the first time this year. In our previous elementary school my older DD was doing practice tests in 1st grade.
The testing is way overdone. As a tool to measure education I can see that a test is informative but to base an entire education system on the results of the tests just isn't realistic or practical.