Reply #4: I agree, the grades are inconsistent with their TAKS pre-test scores [View All]

Apparently, the grades are no reflection on whether or not the child is performing on grade level according to their measures, which is TAKS. Did you ask her teacher why she has As and Bs yet is not on grade level? Why did they just now notice, after more than half the year is up, that your child is below grade level?

End of year tests are very unfair for children who are not good test takers. In our state, you must label your child handicapped if you want to get special test conditions. Many parents are left with two horrible choices, 1)retention, which is often very damaging to a child 2)label their child handicapped which remains in their permanent record and is noted on their SATS. Many colleges do not want to accept handicapped students, as they don't know how severely handicapped they are but do know they must provide extra services (ie pay for special accomodations) according to ADA.

I would NOT label my child handicapped in our discriminatory society unless the child truly was and needed those services. Far too many children are getting pigeon holed this way. Schools are eager to do so because they recieve more money per handicapped child and are able to exempt these scores for their funding. In turn, children who really need the services are shorted because funding is spread too thin amongst kids who don't really need it.