Understanding
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No Child Left Behind supports a standards based education and believes that measurable goals and regular assessments ultimately help improve student outcome. |
This educational law has been controversial since its induction in 2001. Supporters feel it has increased school accountability and intervention programs while others feel it has put unrealistic burdens on schools while placing too much importance on test scores.
Regardless of opinion, NCLB influences your school’s politics, policies and programs. Usually, a school district’s goals are based on raising its test scores so it is important to understand how No Child Left Behind is impacting your child’s school.
No Child Left Behind requires each state to develop annual assessments on the basic skills of mathematics, reading and writing and requires that all students in certain grades be tested. The standards are set by each state. The main goal of NCLB is for all students to test at the proficient level by the 2013-2014 school year.
In addition, schools must meet their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goal. If a school fails to do this for three years in a row, the school is designated a Program Improvement School. Students who fail to make adequate progress for three years in a row must be offered supplemental educational services.
No Child Left Behind also states that teachers must be highly qualified by being proficient in their subject area. This prevents teachers from teaching classes outside their expertise or subject matter.
Your school district’s web site should have some type of accountability report card posted so that you can view each school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as well as their individual Academic Performance Index (API) score. These scores tell you if your school is improving and also compares the results to other similar schools. A perfect API score is 1000.
Most states now have some type of High School Exit Exam that a student must pass in order to receive their diploma. This test is usually given to students starting in the 9th or 10th grade and covers the basic skills of reading, writing and mathematics. In addition, No Child Left Behind mandates that states issue a series of standardized tests, usually in the spring, in all subject areas to determine if students are progressing towards proficiency.
Your child’s cum file should contain all of their testing data. You should also be mailed the results of your child’s assessments each year.
The assessment results will tell you if your child is performing at BELOW BASIC, BASIC, PROFICIENT or ADVANCED level in all subject areas.
Remember, the goal is for all students to test at the proficient level so if your child is testing at the BELOW BASIC level it is important that they start receiving intervention services immediately. |
If your child is in special education and has an IEP, you should understand what it says with regards to your child and assessments. The IEP will determine what tests your child will take AND it will state if your child is entitled to receive any modifications on standardized exams. This is different than modifications given on regular exams taken in the classroom.
This section of the IEP relates to STANDARDIZED TESTING so make sure you are clear on the difference.Since High School Exit Exams are not timed and are assessing basic skills, most do not allow for any modifications. However, students with learning disabilities can take them in a smaller learning environment, have unlimited time to complete them or use visual or hearing aides.
Standardized tests may allow for some modifications. However, in order for your child to receive any modifications or accommodations, they must be initially written into the child’s IEP. Sometimes, a copy of the IEP listing the child’s modifications will be sent to the state department of education in advance so they are aware of which students are receiving modifications. Your child’s caseworker should be able to explain your state’s requirements on this matter.
Some special education students are opted completely out of standardized testing if it is determined that the tests will have no benefit to the student’s IEP goals. Also, if a child will not be graduating from high school due to a disability, the school may decide to issue a certification of completion instead of a diploma to honor the work and achievements accomplished by the child. Keep in mind when it comes to assessments required by No Child Left Behind, not passing the High School Exit Exam will usually result in the child not receiving a diploma. It is very important to understand your district’s requirements.
If your child is in special education, it is very important to start preparing them for the High School Exit Exam early on. |
IEP goals should include tutoring programs and
support classes
that target the basic skills needed to pass this test and ultimately graduate from high school.
