What is direct and extensive instruction?

[Guest guest]

The school has determined that my son will be assessed using

alternate standards for the required NCLB testing - meaning he will

not take the typical NCLB test with his grade level peers.

Truthfully, he would not be able to effectively take the test even

with accommodations. My complaint is that the alternate standards

are not appropriate for my son either.

So, of course, the school wants him to be assessed using the

alternate standards. His score impacts their NCLB results. In

order to qualify for alternate assessment the school must answer yes

to every question on a check list. One of the questions is below.

Does the student require direct and extensive instruction to

acquire, maintain, generalize, and transfer new knowledge and skills?

So, I'm thinking that if they say yes to this question, they should

be providing DIRECT AND EXTENSIVE INSTRUCTION. But what is it?

It's certainly more than the 30 minutes of OT and 60 minutes of

Speech that he's been receiving this school year. What would you

ask for? How would you document the need? Can you direct to me to

anything that would support our request for additional resources

and/or services?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

wife, mother, worrier