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Special students to take assessment test
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Posted on Jan 12 1999
Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1997 are allowing the participation of students with special needs in the overall assessment tests of the Public School System.
Their inclusion gave them access to take SAT 9 last summer and will continue to join the regular students in taking other assessment examinations in the future.
However, their performance can also be taken as uniquely for the group and not to be compared with the rest of the scores. When PSS came out with the SAT 9 scores, it was not clear whether they included the performance of special education students.
“The federal government is looking at just what kind of achievement rate they are making as a group,” said Franklin Perez, special education program coordinator.
Their desegregation also takes into consideration the high percentage of drop-out rate in special education even with the institution of these laws and services.
Behavior and discipline are also covered in the amendment.
“This is to make sure that schools address the issue of discipline,” he said.
Prior to the child’s admittance to the program, a behavioral plan is drawn up if the student shows signs of behavior problems.
A 45-day ruling as provided in the new law allows this number of days suspension of a child from the site in arresting possible fights or for somebody to get hurt.
“But it does not relieve the special education program from providing educational services for that child during those 45 days,” he said.
If a particular behavior is committed not because of his disability, he is to be treated as any regular students in terms of the discipline. However, if it was caused because of disability, the school is required to go back to square one in setting up a behavioral plan to address his problem.
