tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133521035538248322.post2735761858723019691..comments2023-12-24T05:39:44.753-06:00Comments on Mike Klonsky's Blog: Duncan a know-nothing when it comes to teaching kids with disabilitiesMike Klonskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02017021676773731024noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133521035538248322.post-22503292775867460632014-06-26T13:49:21.772-05:002014-06-26T13:49:21.772-05:00The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) posted ...The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) posted a wiki for its members to comment on this latest change. Here is my comment:<br /><br />I'm unclear how shifting a proportion of compliance from IEP's to test-based scores will strengthen outcomes and guarantee full due process protections for students in SPED. In public schools all over the country, standardized test scores are being used to punish teachers, not to improve instruction. Children in SPED are becoming more segregated and excluded, rather than included, due to DoEd's test score-based accountability. In TN, we have political leaders stating that they, I quote: "are not going to spend money on those [special education and at risk] kids." [my words inserted are relevant to the context].<br /><br />IDEA makes the IEP - not test scores- the decision point for placement, related services, testing, and due process. A child's goals and objectives are the source for accountability. This new policy asserts that test scores are the primary determinant of progress, rather than individualized goals. Shifting the decision making power to test scores undermines the fundamental integrity of the IEP. CEC cannot participate in such a shift if we are to assure the school based IEP team maintains its contractual power.<br /><br />NAEP scores are helpful in comparing large groups of similarly situated children in controlled studies. NAEP is not designed to measure individual progress, and as such, should not have the weight of overseeing schools compliance on IEP goals and objectives. Standardized test scores alone cannot inform curriculum, staffing, targeted instructional procedures, specialized equipment, or paraprofessionals. This is the role of the IEP. Yet, DoEd will usurp these decisions if test scores become the goals they choose to enforce.<br /><br />This move by DoEd appears to be a backdoor for weakening IEP decision making powers by reducing the influence of the IEP team based decisions to test score-based decisions. I hope CEC resists any and all attempts to weaken IEP and due process for SPED students. We have come too far, for too long to permit this to happen.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12813056667733621829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133521035538248322.post-81181065132273399252014-06-26T08:12:44.486-05:002014-06-26T08:12:44.486-05:00Actually, I think "major shift" was a ty...Actually, I think "major shift" was a typo. They added an f.Diennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04570040547158789834noreply@blogger.com