Hi everyone! Anyone with kids in school knows that the spring semester of each school year is full of those dreaded standardized tests. I have VERY negative feelings about the whole NCLB issue--it is intended to make sure "no child is left behind"--but it seems to me that MANY more kids ARE getting "left behind" BECAUSE of it!!!! In our state, I think as many as 50 to 60 percent of 8th graders didn't quite make the minimum scores in math and reading. Right now, parents are getting those preliminary scores--MANY of them are getting info that tells them that their child cannot proceed from 8th grade to high school because they did not meet the minimum scores. Those kids often are making good grades and are on honor roll, but just did not do as well on the standardized tests as expected. They are all highly stressed out--they will have to go to summer school and take the test again. If they don't make the minimum scores then, I think they have to be retained in 8th grade!
On a more personal note--my daughter just received her scores yesterday. Since she is in 7th grade, the scores are not as "do or die" as they will be next year. She didn't quite make the minimum scores--she was close, but not quite there. They have to make at least 800 in reading and math--she made a 793 in reading and a 777 in math. She was VERY upset about her scores! She did SO well in school this year--even made AB honor roll--but this loomed over her head and knocked her self-esteem down a notch. She was really worried about summer school, not going to 8th grade, etc. I told her that she WAS going to go on to 8th grade--the tests NEXT spring will be very important, though. I don't know what more she can do--she studied hard and did her very best, but, according to the NCLB-based minimum scores, she didn't do "well enough". This upsets me so much--I feel that my child is in danger of getting "left behind" by the system ironically named "no child left behind."
From what I can see, NCLB lets each state determine SOME things. They seem to claim that any of these "make the score or you won't be promoted" ideas to be strictly state-based, not NCLB-based. Whoever is behind it is irrelevant to me--I just want my daughter to have an appropriate education, not one that either sets expectations too low OR ignores everything done in school in favor of standardized test scores. Not to mention, I have noticed the change in the school environment since NCLB came into being. As the spring semester begins, it really seems that the number one priority in our local public schools is these darn tests!! I have truly seen the change in climate happen--we have to get ready for the tests, we have to make sure the students do their best, we have to be sure that we make AYP (adequate yearly progress), etc. For months, the standardized testing is THE number one priority form any public schools--their funding is completely reliant on how well their students do on the tests. This causes a lot of undue stress in the educational environment, not to mention the stress on students to make sure they do well on them. My daughter is now terrified of 8th grade--she WAS looking forward to it, but now the pressure of: make an 800 in reading and math on this test next year, or you won't be going to high school!!--that is not good!
As I said before, MOST of our state's 8th graders did NOT make 800 or above in math and reading--I think math was the more difficult of the two. If "gifted" kids and "average" kids aren't passing it, how can kids with any type of learning issue pass it? I am really worried for my daughter! NOW--many of you know that I am planning to send her to FSDB for high school--if we can ever get ourselves moved to Florida, that is! She really really wants to go there. She was ready LAST year, but our move to Florida is taking much longer than expected. At first, I thought that as long as it happened within the next year, that she could attend 8th grade here and then move there for high school. Now I am worried about those darn standardized tests! I know Florida has them, too--I just don't know what Florida's rules are regarding the "do or die" aspect of moving up from 8th grade to high school. Aren't there any modifications made for disabilities? Yes, I know there are DURING testing--I mean regarding the scores. No, I don't want to lower expectations--I'm not sure WHAT is the right thing to do. I just know that my daughter would be devastated if she didn't "make the grade" on these tests and couldn't move up to high school on time. I also worry about things like: what if they repeat the test several times, go to summer school, repeat a grade, continue to make good grades in school, and STILL don't make the required scores on these standardized tests? Is my child DOOMED to be in the "special certificate" track instead of the "regular diploma" track just based on standardized testing? What if she keeps making good grades in school but falls a bit short on these minimal scores--is that enough to keep her from earning a REAL diploma?
Does anyone have info about these NCLB tests and deaf schools? Since they are usually state schools, thus public education, I assume they have to all take them and make the minimum scores, too. Anyone know how that is going? Apparently, the tests vary greatly from state to state. In our current state, there seems to be a BIG problem with them--if 50 to 60 percent of all 8th graders in the state didn't make the minimal scores, I would think that definitely constitutes a problem. Anyone in Florida have the statistics for their testing scores? I am wondering if I need to get my daughter down to Florida for 8th grade to avoid this issue here next year. I really WANT to get there soon, but money is a HUGE issue (selling the house, landing a good paying job). But I have some ideas up my sleeve, including moving myself and my daughter first, renting a tiny apartment and letting her go to FSDB for 8th grade, working anywhere I can find employment (I have a masters degree but haven't found anything yet), and then having my husband and son join us whenever possible in the upcoming year. I don't know exactly what is best for my daughter's 8th grade year, but I am beginning to question whether staying here is the best thing or not. Yesterday, she was begging me to hurry up and move to Florida so she could start at FSDB in the fall--for 8th grade--and not waiting until 9th grade.
All I want is to find the best educational path for my daughter. I want her to learn as much as she can and become as prepared for adult life as possible. I want her to have an enjoyable time as a teenager, too. I want her educational needs met, and I want her to have an active and thriving social life. It is SO hard to find the BEST resources for our children! I know the laws only provide for an "appropriate" education, but that isn't enough--I want her to have the BEST education and socialization that she possibly can! As she reaches adulthood, she will have to make many choices in life--I want her to learn how to make the BEST choices for herself, not just the ones that will help her "get by" in life. For the next few years, it is up to me to help her do this--and I am constantly baffled as to what IS the best choice for her regarding her education. I truly think that she will do MUCH better in a school with lots of other deaf students--i.e. a deaf school that is the right fit for her--as opposed to a large public school with only two or three (if that!) other deaf students. I think I have made the decision just from writing this--my daughter's BEST placement is in a deaf school. I will do whatever I can to make this happen for her. BTW--the deaf school in our current state is NOT an option--it does not even begin to compare to FSDB. We either have to move to Florida to get her to a deaf school that "fits" her, or we will have to look into sending her up to the one in DC. I would much prefer moving to Florida and seeing her each and every weekend, so that is what we are trying to do. Wish us luck--and please share any info you have about deaf schools and the standardized testing issues. Thanks!
On a more personal note--my daughter just received her scores yesterday. Since she is in 7th grade, the scores are not as "do or die" as they will be next year. She didn't quite make the minimum scores--she was close, but not quite there. They have to make at least 800 in reading and math--she made a 793 in reading and a 777 in math. She was VERY upset about her scores! She did SO well in school this year--even made AB honor roll--but this loomed over her head and knocked her self-esteem down a notch. She was really worried about summer school, not going to 8th grade, etc. I told her that she WAS going to go on to 8th grade--the tests NEXT spring will be very important, though. I don't know what more she can do--she studied hard and did her very best, but, according to the NCLB-based minimum scores, she didn't do "well enough". This upsets me so much--I feel that my child is in danger of getting "left behind" by the system ironically named "no child left behind."
From what I can see, NCLB lets each state determine SOME things. They seem to claim that any of these "make the score or you won't be promoted" ideas to be strictly state-based, not NCLB-based. Whoever is behind it is irrelevant to me--I just want my daughter to have an appropriate education, not one that either sets expectations too low OR ignores everything done in school in favor of standardized test scores. Not to mention, I have noticed the change in the school environment since NCLB came into being. As the spring semester begins, it really seems that the number one priority in our local public schools is these darn tests!! I have truly seen the change in climate happen--we have to get ready for the tests, we have to make sure the students do their best, we have to be sure that we make AYP (adequate yearly progress), etc. For months, the standardized testing is THE number one priority form any public schools--their funding is completely reliant on how well their students do on the tests. This causes a lot of undue stress in the educational environment, not to mention the stress on students to make sure they do well on them. My daughter is now terrified of 8th grade--she WAS looking forward to it, but now the pressure of: make an 800 in reading and math on this test next year, or you won't be going to high school!!--that is not good!
As I said before, MOST of our state's 8th graders did NOT make 800 or above in math and reading--I think math was the more difficult of the two. If "gifted" kids and "average" kids aren't passing it, how can kids with any type of learning issue pass it? I am really worried for my daughter! NOW--many of you know that I am planning to send her to FSDB for high school--if we can ever get ourselves moved to Florida, that is! She really really wants to go there. She was ready LAST year, but our move to Florida is taking much longer than expected. At first, I thought that as long as it happened within the next year, that she could attend 8th grade here and then move there for high school. Now I am worried about those darn standardized tests! I know Florida has them, too--I just don't know what Florida's rules are regarding the "do or die" aspect of moving up from 8th grade to high school. Aren't there any modifications made for disabilities? Yes, I know there are DURING testing--I mean regarding the scores. No, I don't want to lower expectations--I'm not sure WHAT is the right thing to do. I just know that my daughter would be devastated if she didn't "make the grade" on these tests and couldn't move up to high school on time. I also worry about things like: what if they repeat the test several times, go to summer school, repeat a grade, continue to make good grades in school, and STILL don't make the required scores on these standardized tests? Is my child DOOMED to be in the "special certificate" track instead of the "regular diploma" track just based on standardized testing? What if she keeps making good grades in school but falls a bit short on these minimal scores--is that enough to keep her from earning a REAL diploma?
Does anyone have info about these NCLB tests and deaf schools? Since they are usually state schools, thus public education, I assume they have to all take them and make the minimum scores, too. Anyone know how that is going? Apparently, the tests vary greatly from state to state. In our current state, there seems to be a BIG problem with them--if 50 to 60 percent of all 8th graders in the state didn't make the minimal scores, I would think that definitely constitutes a problem. Anyone in Florida have the statistics for their testing scores? I am wondering if I need to get my daughter down to Florida for 8th grade to avoid this issue here next year. I really WANT to get there soon, but money is a HUGE issue (selling the house, landing a good paying job). But I have some ideas up my sleeve, including moving myself and my daughter first, renting a tiny apartment and letting her go to FSDB for 8th grade, working anywhere I can find employment (I have a masters degree but haven't found anything yet), and then having my husband and son join us whenever possible in the upcoming year. I don't know exactly what is best for my daughter's 8th grade year, but I am beginning to question whether staying here is the best thing or not. Yesterday, she was begging me to hurry up and move to Florida so she could start at FSDB in the fall--for 8th grade--and not waiting until 9th grade.
All I want is to find the best educational path for my daughter. I want her to learn as much as she can and become as prepared for adult life as possible. I want her to have an enjoyable time as a teenager, too. I want her educational needs met, and I want her to have an active and thriving social life. It is SO hard to find the BEST resources for our children! I know the laws only provide for an "appropriate" education, but that isn't enough--I want her to have the BEST education and socialization that she possibly can! As she reaches adulthood, she will have to make many choices in life--I want her to learn how to make the BEST choices for herself, not just the ones that will help her "get by" in life. For the next few years, it is up to me to help her do this--and I am constantly baffled as to what IS the best choice for her regarding her education. I truly think that she will do MUCH better in a school with lots of other deaf students--i.e. a deaf school that is the right fit for her--as opposed to a large public school with only two or three (if that!) other deaf students. I think I have made the decision just from writing this--my daughter's BEST placement is in a deaf school. I will do whatever I can to make this happen for her. BTW--the deaf school in our current state is NOT an option--it does not even begin to compare to FSDB. We either have to move to Florida to get her to a deaf school that "fits" her, or we will have to look into sending her up to the one in DC. I would much prefer moving to Florida and seeing her each and every weekend, so that is what we are trying to do. Wish us luck--and please share any info you have about deaf schools and the standardized testing issues. Thanks!
