Re: COMPARING MARYLAND PITFALLS TO YOUR STATES

[Guest guest]

My little guy hasn't even started school yet (K-12) and already I am upset

because in New York they are implementing a regents diploma only. There

will be no more school diplomas. Our kids will only be eligible for an IEP

diploma which means they will be excluded from certain jobs (if they are

able to hold them) because they will not have a regular school diploma.

Another fight just waiting!!!!

Loree

COMPARING MARYLAND PITFALLS TO YOUR STATES

> Here's my latest brain-pain. A diploma bound student can receive any

> accommodation and modification for curriculum(must be in iep). But

> the Statewide Assessments describe only allowances for accomodations-

> -NO MODIFICATIONS (some states use out of level testing)land had

> NO case studies on students with DS and this sounds like a way to

> FORCE our kids off a diploma track=0 accountability.

> What's going on in your State---I cannot be the only one going

> through this???Inclusion had been around long enough for this to be

> an issue to others by now.

> Donna

>

>

>

> Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Accommodation relates to access to taking the tests--things like changing to

a large font, using a keyboard instead of writing, etc. The students have

all the knowledge, but have accommodations to be able to show their

knowledge.

Modification mean the content of the tests is changed significantly--like

knowing key concepts, but not all the details. Modification allows the

student to not be required to have all the knowledge.

Was that as clear as mud? This is a complex thing, really. You can find

more clear explanations if you search the web for accommodations +

modifications + disabilities.

Judi

COMPARING MARYLAND PITFALLS TO YOUR STATES

Here's my latest brain-pain. A diploma bound student can receive any

accommodation and modification for curriculum(must be in iep). But

the Statewide Assessments describe only allowances for accomodations-

-NO MODIFICATIONS (some states use out of level testing)land had

NO case studies on students with DS and this sounds like a way to

FORCE our kids off a diploma track=0 accountability.

What's going on in your State---I cannot be the only one going

through this???Inclusion had been around long enough for this to be

an issue to others by now.

Donna

Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/26/03 7:25:27 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

donnahelinski@... writes:

> Here's my latest brain-pain. A diploma bound student can receive any

> accommodation and modification for curriculum(must be in iep). But

> the Statewide Assessments describe only allowances for accomodations-

> -NO MODIFICATIONS (some states use out of level testing)land had

> NO case studies on students with DS and this sounds like a way to

> FORCE our kids off a diploma track=0 accountability.

> What's going on in your State---I cannot be the only one going

> through this???Inclusion had been around long enough for this to be

> an issue to others by now.

> Donna

>

It's recent only because state assesments are a new thing (as a requirement

for graduation) HOWEVER MD is not the only state going thru this. I know in CA

that there is litigation going on over accomodations.

Get this - you can get accomodations to take the CA Bar for a learning

disability, but not for taking the HS assessment exams. Go figure.

- Becky

[Guest guest]

Well, Loree we gotta have this fight- amanda will be going to hs in 2 years

from now, and thats one of the reasons i havent taken off the testing from her

IEP. If i do, she will only be eligible for an IEP diploma and I think she

has a chance for a regents diploma- so we have to find a way to make that

happen.

hey maybe by time micah gets there, it will change....

~ Mom to 12 DS and Diabetes Type 1 and 9 NY

[Guest guest]

Very interesting, Donna. Never thought of it that way. By the way.....I love

the expression you used.... " Brain-pain " . LOL.

jackie

[Guest guest]

Part of the " No Child Left Behind " Act means that ALL children MUST take the

stupid statewide assessments. I find this utterly ridiculous since my son has

been LEFT BEHIND quite often by not having had any access to the general

curricula up until 8th grade and then only at my insistence. Whoever writes

this crap may have good intentions but they are so ignorant of reality it is not

even funny.

Elaine

COMPARING MARYLAND PITFALLS TO YOUR STATES

Here's my latest brain-pain. A diploma bound student can receive any

accommodation and modification for curriculum(must be in iep). But

the Statewide Assessments describe only allowances for accomodations-

-NO MODIFICATIONS (some states use out of level testing)land had

NO case studies on students with DS and this sounds like a way to

FORCE our kids off a diploma track=0 accountability.

What's going on in your State---I cannot be the only one going

through this???Inclusion had been around long enough for this to be

an issue to others by now.

Donna

Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

[Guest guest]

Good for you that you had the fore thought to make sure the testing

was in her IEP> Yes things can change by the time Micah gets there, but i

am beginning to think they only change for the worse. i guess I am getting

to cynical lol!! I can't wait to see graduate with a regents diploma

!!! Loree

Re: COMPARING MARYLAND PITFALLS TO YOUR STATES

> Well, Loree we gotta have this fight- amanda will be going to hs in 2

years

> from now, and thats one of the reasons i havent taken off the testing

from her

> IEP. If i do, she will only be eligible for an IEP diploma and I think

she

> has a chance for a regents diploma- so we have to find a way to make that

> happen.

>

> hey maybe by time micah gets there, it will change....

>

> ~ Mom to 12 DS and Diabetes Type 1 and 9 NY

>

>

> Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Pray I get this right, I was just talking with USDOE Friday because of the

annual report our Special Ed Advisory Committee is preparing. New figures have

not been passed thru legislation yet but the school systems have been told to

follow them until they are changed.

IDEA calls for 100% of students to be assessed. NCLB says no more than 5% of

all your students can be alternately assessed (assessments other than the

standard used for others) If you assess more than 1% alternately, the excess

above the 1% will count as zeros when adding your AYP figures. Need AYP to get

the federal bucks!

Our school system is huge, 2nd in the state. We don't go over the 1% before

all this and they push lots of kids into the alternate track that don't need

to be. Check your school system out and see what your % is ... I am pretty

sure our state puts the figures on their web site each year for each school

system.

Cheryl in VA

People with disabilities are here today to remind us that equal justice under

the law is not a privilege but a fundamental birthright in America.

                            Senator Ted Kennedy, during the Senate's passage

of ADA-July 13, 1990

[Guest guest]

I think Judi gave an excellent explanation of the difference between

accommodations and modifications.

If you modified the test you would invalidate the results. Modifications are

changes so strong that they alter the curriculum or the test. Accommodations

are what allows you to access the test or curriculum or respond to the test

or curriculum.

In VA, a child with an IEP can take one part of our standardized test, such

as one content area test, and you are then counted as participating. That

works for many in the elementary and middle school years, but in high school you

have to pass the end of course tests, as well as passing the course,

unmodified, in order to receive a verified credit for the class.

Cheryl in VA

People with disabilities are here today to remind us that equal justice under

the law is not a privilege but a fundamental birthright in America.

                            Senator Ted Kennedy, during the Senate's passage

of ADA-July 13, 1990

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/26/2003 4:02:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time, RSYOSH@...

writes:

> NO case studies on students with DS and

I doubt they would track by DS .. they would track by MR. Not all kids with

DS have the same disability level or fit the same profile of MR.

Cheryl in VA

People with disabilities are here today to remind us that equal justice under

the law is not a privilege but a fundamental birthright in America.

                            Senator Ted Kennedy, during the Senate's passage

of ADA-July 13, 1990

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/26/2003 4:02:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time, RSYOSH@...

writes:

> >-NO MODIFICATIONS (some states use out of level testing)land had

> >NO case studies on students with DS and this sounds like a way to

> >FORCE our kids off a diploma track=0 accountability.

>

Actually, here in VA, the standardized testing and the low levels of

percentage students allowed to be alternately assessed are forcing

accountability

where previously there was none. Schools have protested so much, " you expect

us to make AYP with these kids? " that they raised the percentage of students

allowed in alternate tracks from .5 to 1.0 percent. Remember, alternate

assessment is ONLY for students with disabilities at the SEVERE and PROFOUND

level.

It is evident that many students have been denied access to the curriculum

necessary to pass the tests. VA has been preparing students for six years for

the point where you must pass the standarized tests in order to graduate. This

year, 2004, will be our first class that must have the required number of

verified credits in order to receive diploma. We also have an option for

students with disabilities that passed the required classes for standard diploma

but

failed the SOL tests. They receive a modified standard diploma.

Cheryl in VA

People with disabilities are here today to remind us that equal justice under

the law is not a privilege but a fundamental birthright in America.

                            Senator Ted Kennedy, during the Senate's passage

of ADA-July 13, 1990

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/26/2003 4:02:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time, RSYOSH@...

writes:

> >-NO MODIFICATIONS (some states use out of level testing)land had

> >NO case studies on students with DS and this sounds like a way to

> >FORCE our kids off a diploma track=0 accountability.

>

I forgot to tell you guys ... last year at one workshop I attended, a

federal USDOE person was the presenter, and when she gave us the figures for %

of

students in regular classes 50% or more, she said the most shocking and

uncalled for figure was for students with MR .... only 5% of students with MR

attend

regular classes more than 50% of the day.

I don't think that figure would be as shocking if those 95% of students were

accessing a curriculum in their classes.

Cheryl in VA

People with disabilities are here today to remind us that equal justice under

the law is not a privilege but a fundamental birthright in America.

                            Senator Ted Kennedy, during the Senate's passage

of ADA-July 13, 1990