Do Standardized Tests Help Students With Disabilities?

Standardized tests are a two-edged sword:

1- They create incredible pressure on students, parents and teachers to produce results on tests that are wordy, at times ambiguous and carry more weight than any parent would want for their child

2- For the first time ever, schools are focusing on students with disabilities becasue these students scores directly impact how the school is judged by the Federal No Child Left Behind Legislation NCLB -- in Florida this impacts both the School's State Grade and whether the school makes Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), which is what NCLB requires

We have seen School Improvement Team goals focus on this population as never before and provide much needed resources

What parents can do is:
1- Get involved in your School's Improvement Team and help decide what they do

2- Be involved when this comittee decides how to utilize the signficant amount of money given to them through the IDEA Law -- Individuals with Disabilities Act. In Florida, schools get close to $1500 per student in funds that can be used at the school's discretion

If parents can work together with administrators to spend this money wisely, then this added pressure and focus can be utilized to help our children