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