Disability people need education too


New Testing Requirements For Children With Disabilities A Plus For Virginia Schools

Previously, the Virginia schools werespecial education children. For those
required to test, under the No Child LeftVirginia schools students who are not apt to
Behind Act, many of its children withreach grade level achievement within the same
disabilities in reading, math and science,timeframe as their peers without
regardless of their ability to do so. Unlessdisabilities, they will be able to take a
they were severely disabled, the children hadmodified  test.
to take state-required tests for their grade
level whether or not they had the skills andSpecial tests will be written for individual
understanding. Thus, many of these specialstudents on their grade level content but at
students failed the tests. Testing gradestheir level of understanding and ability.
were third, eighth and 11th on an annualOtherwise, a Virginia schools fifth grade,
basis.disabled child with a third grade
understanding will take a test at a third
This caused several problems that weregrade level of comprehension on the fifth
frustrating for both the Virginia schoolsgrade content. To ensure the new regulations
educators  and  the  children:are not abused, schools can test up to an
additional two percent of students, who meet
Their test scores were pulling down thethe eligibility requirements, under the
school state rankings. Virginia schools aremodified  testing  rules.
required to meet annual student achievement
goals based upon these test scores. If theyThe federal government will give states more
do not meet the goals, Virginia schoolsthan $21 million to cover the cost of
experience many possible sanctions, such ascreating the new tests and guidelines for
losing students to better scoring schools,their use. The new tests are slated to be put
reorganizing  or  closing.into  service  by  the 2008-2009 school year.
It made the students feel like failures,With the new changes, state rankings of the
since they do not have the capacity toVirginia schools will more accurately reflect
participate fully in the testing process atthe true achievements (or lack thereof) of
their  grade  level.each school. Additionally, Virginia schools
teachers will be able to use the test scores
Virginia schools educators had no accurateto target problem areas for each of these
indicator as to how well these students werechildren. The students can more fully
progressing or failing. Since the testing wasparticipate in the testing process, showing
created for the non-disabled child at gradeteachers and parents what they have learned
level, there was no accurate benchmark orand  how  they  are  progressing.
test to show how these disabled children were
progressing and what might be needed to do aThe new modifications for Virginia schools
better  job  for  them.testing are a welcomed change by students,
educators and parents alike, making the
In April 2007, the U.S. Education DepartmentVirginia schools testing a more useful tool
modified its rules governing the testing ofnot just a hit or miss measurement.



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