Guest guest Posted February 16, 1999 Report Share Posted February 16, 1999 << Just to add my $.02 in, (not to sound like a pessimist) but I doubt my child will never get to benefit from school programs such as softball team, soccer team, powder puff, cheearling squad, band, etc. etc. etc. Sure special ed is much more expensive than the programs above which usually do a lot of their own fundraising, but they are all very much a part of school life, I'm sure when my child gets into middle school, it will be something else I'll have to accept. Oh well, thank goodness for Special Olympics! Jeanne >> Jeanne, I agree completely. Although *plays* in the town soccer league, I seriously doubt he will benefit from any of the other sports. All I want for my kids is an education that is more than just a piece of paper. In Massachusetts, they just mandated testing in order to graduate with a diploma. Modifications will be allowed, but too many will disqualify the test. If you don't pass the test you get a certificate of attendance! It's still new but I intend to keep my eye on this one! Janet Wife to Matt Mom to & (CHaRGEr) 6 3/4, nne 22 months, and Mom to 8 months, and 17 months. Weymouth, Massachusetts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 1999 Report Share Posted February 17, 1999 Janet, They are doing the same thing in CA.. will be interesting... Casey charge@... minnow@... Mom to Dawn 20, Ken 9 ADHD, and 7 CHARGE. Cobb California ICQ UIN# 728514 AIM Buddy List: ZeeCasey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 1999 Report Share Posted February 28, 1999 >All I want for my kids is an education that is more than just a piece of >paper. In Massachusetts, they just mandated testing in order to graduate with >a diploma. Modifications will be allowed, but too many will disqualify the >test. If you don't pass the test you get a certificate of attendance! It's >still new but I intend to keep my eye on this one! > Janet: Please DO keep an eye on that diploma requirement! Indiana has the ISTEP+ (all the name, I'm not sure of) that requires 10th graders to pass in order to graduate with a diploma. (It is also given in some of the earlier grades to check educational progress and see where additional curiculum changes need to occur within the district.) This requirement applies to ALL students, including Special Ed. I agree that, at least in concept, it is to help and insure that our Special Ed students aren't kept in a non-educational or appropriate program. However - and this is the biggie - is at a Deaf School and is in a Bilingual-Bicultural setting. Currently, in Kindergarten, the focus is on language - at the Indiana Deaf School that means focusing on ASL proficiency. Eventually she will learn English. However, students who use English as a Second Language (ESL) are not allowed to use an Interpreter for the testing, since it is to test English proficiency. (Much is written and reading comprehension. Even the mathematics portions use many story problems, etc. and require in-depth reading skills.) The district has stated that to use an Interpreter changes the type of test (norm referenced vs. criterion referenced), therefore it would not meet the requirements for graduation. The school district states that a student failing ISTEP+ can achieve a diploma, not just a certificate of attendance, if they have a special " waiver " from the principal of the school they attend. The problem there is that the student must take advantage of any and all remediation offered, and take the ISTEP+ test every time it is offered. Problem #1: Not enough remediation spots are available. My son participated last summer, so I have first-hand knowledge of this. Example: 147 second grade students were sent letters inviting them to participate in summer school to prepare for third grade ISTEP+ testing. There were only 60 slots available on a first -come, first-served basis. If that were to happen at a high school level, a child may not be able to participate, thus being denied the opportunity to " take advantage of any and all remediation " offered! Problem #2: Many students currently in remediation during the school year are being required to do daily work on top of regular assignments. Some students, many with mental impairments, are simply giving up because they feel overloaded. Problem #3: (As I see it) Are we telling students, " If you can't get a diploma we'll at least say you were here. " ? Where is the encouragement to continue working in school to achieve? Any child can simply " attend " school! I have heard a parent state that they are having a hard time convincing thier child to remain in school because " if I'm not getting a diploma anyway, why try? " ! This child is not even a special ed student! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE keep a close eye on this. The advocates for this type of testing state it is to allow the system to actually educate the students...even the ones involved in special ed. I feel that it CAN be used that way, but there are many problems inherent if you have a child who is not using English as a first language. will never be a user of English as a first language. She uses ASL very well at age six and we expect that to continue. We also expect her to be able to read and write English. However, it must be repeated that English is a SECOND language to her...one she cannot hear and must memorize the words and meanings. Think how difficult it can be to learn a foreign language you can hear. Now imagine you must learn it without benfit of " sounding it out " . Our school district has yet to address this issue. One parent questioned it because he has to adoptive Haitian sons. they do not have good English at this point. He was told that ESL is not an issue that is even going to be addressed in a re-evaluation of ISTEP+ procedures and requirements. I am very disturbed by this trend of no accommodations for ESL students. Accommodations are made for students who have mobility problems that may not be able to write. But an Interpreter is strictly forbidden. I could go on and on - and have - Sorry! AGAIN!!! Just my 2 cents! Friends in CHARGE, Marilyn Ogan, Mom to (6 yrs - CHARGE), Kenny (9 yrs) and wife to Rick oganm@... Indianapolis, IN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 28, 1999 Report Share Posted February 28, 1999 Marilyn, Thank you for you input and insight. Please ramble on (and no you weren't rambling to me). This is all stuff I have to continually be on top of, in addition to watching the legislature for attempts to whack the hell out of special education. We are meeting with our local representative who is actually very powerful. We met with him last year and we am hoping to make an impact again this year. Janet Wife to Matt Mom to Many! Weymouth, Massachusetts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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