What is the issue?
Using standardized tests or high-stakes testing to assess all special education students on how well they have met grade level standards.

Why this issue is important:
-Testing can narrow the curriculum
-Teachers may teach to the test
-Students may be tested on material they haven't been taught
-Social and emotional well being of the students can be impacted
-Federal funding can be cut due to a school's lack of performance
-Testing can lead to blaming special education students for failing scores

Advocates of testing argue that testing:
-Increases teacher accountability
-Leads to higher expectations for students with disabilities
-Improves instruction
-Improves student performance
-Improves teaching styles
-Increases students with learning disabilities expose to the general education curriculum
-Leads to better alignment of state standards with IEP's

Our Stance:
More flexible testing policies are needed! Alternative solutions to high stakes testing need to be considered and implemented so that students with learning disabilities do not have such high consequences associated with testing. Special education students who have IEP's are usually all lumped into one big category. Students with IEP's have a wide range of abilities and their individual differences need to be recognized. Using the same standardized test to assess all general education and special education students is not appropriate. Currently NCLB allows for up to 2% of special needs students to be tested using alternative assessments. There needs to be more flexibility with that number without losing sight of high expectations for all students.
Click here for an outline of the Federal Government's modified achievement standards

How are No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) aligned?
Ed.Gov NCLB and IDEA alignment facts
Additional NCLB and IDEA alignment facts

What is NCLB?
NCLB fact page

What is IDEA?
Ed.Gov IDEA fact page
National Resource Center for ADHD IDEA fact page

NCLB Highlights:
"NCLB is built on four principles: accountability for results, more choices for parents, greater local control and flexibility, and an emphasis on doing what works based on scientific research." NCLB Overview
-100% students proficient in reading and math by the year 2014
-Increased Accountability What is increased accountability?
-Adequate Yearly Progress(AYP) What is AYP?
-Highly Qualified Teachers
What is a highly qualified teacher?

IDEA Highlights:
-Prior to the passing of IDEA in 1975 only one in five students with disabilities received a public education -IDEA mandates a free and appropriate education for all students
-Students with disabilities are provided an education with nondisabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate in the least restrictive environment
-Nearly 6 million children aged 3 through 21 receive special education services under part B of IDEA.
-Roughly 67% are Specific Learning Disabled or speech and language impaired.
-Less than 12% have significant cognitive issues or traumatic brain injury or mental retardation.
-"The categories of disabilities are; autism, deaf/blind, deafness, hearing impaired, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, serious emotional disturbance, specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment including blindness, and other health impairment." National Center for Education Statistics fast facts
-Most students spend the majority of their time in regular education classrooms because of IDEA.