Spellings to Examine 'No Child' Loophole

[GeorgeGist]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Education Secretary Margaret Spellings is pledging to scrutinize a loophole that allows states to exclude nearly 2 million student test scores under the No Child Left Behind Act.

"When children are not part of the accountability system, then that's a problem," Spellings said in an interview Thursday at the conclusion of four-day Associated Press series that highlighted the excluded scores.

Spellings said the AP report amounted to a "truth-in-advertising" exercise for state policymakers, parents and federal officials. She declined to specify exactly how she will address the excluded scores, noting the issue will come up with the law's renewal next year and with pending federal reviews of state education plans.

At least 10 states are seeking permission to change the numbers of students whose scores do not have to be counted in required racial categories.
...http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NO_CHILD_SPELLINGS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME

[wtbymark]

1. The woman wants to destroy public education

thats their plan and thats her job

just ONE of the disastrous policies that have to be dismantled

[joeybee12]

2. Tori Spelling??????

Oh, sorry, not her, but that homophobic piece of %$#& named Margaret.

[LostinVA]

5. Tori Spelling would do a better job, I daresay

She's been in a gay-oriented movie (and was quite good!), so she probably isn't a 'phobe...

[joeybee12]

6. I don't think she is at all...have you seen her VH1 show?

I only saw it once--she has a gay friend on it, and the humor is very gay-friendly.

[LostinVA]

7. The show is quite funny!

[joeybee12]

8. Wish I had cable...

..you're right, it is funny!

[rodeodance]

3. oh, for heavens sake. She talks as if this is 'new' to her!!

[azurnoir]

4. What a surprise

The law is a word game that allows the children most in to be excluded.

[madaboutharry]

9. I am convinced that schools are playing with

the numbers. I think that kids who are diagnosed with learning disabilities are not having their test scores counted, even if they are mainstreamed at grade level. I truly believe that the whole "Blue Ribbon School" label is a load of crap. My kids are going to a "Blue Ribbon" school and there is no way everyone in that school is testing in the top 10%.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. No we can't get away with excluding LD kids anymore

or other special ed kids.

The law says that every state can set a percentage of kids that can be excluded. The problem is the law lets each state decide; so one state may exclude 10% while another state may exclude 5%. So it's not standardized. That is the problem, not the exclusions.

They need to allow some kids to be excluded for practical reasons. If for example a kid moves and enrolls in a new school mid year it isn't fair to count his scores in that school's report, as he hasn't benefited from instruction at that school all year.

There are also a very small number of kids with disabilities who shouldn't be tested. I have one this year who is nonverbal and severely mentally retarded. It would be a waste of time and too frustrating for her for us to take the time to test her.

There are also kids who speak no English.

So there will always be a need to exclude SOME kids. But it should be a standard that all states follow.

[madaboutharry]

11. I don't know, something isn't kosher

n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. NCLB isn't kosher

It is a disastrously bad bill.

[Delarage]

12. Why should someone reading below grade level

be expected to pass a test ON grade level? Not everyone will be able to read on grade level. Not ever. You can't legislate away the fact that some percentage of the population will have problems reading. And to subject those kids to the humiliation of a test on grade level is inhumane. Anyone in special education should be exempt from taking the stupid tests on grade level. Maybe they could take it on their instructional level, but that could be embarassing, too (a fifth grader taking a test marked "First Grade").

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. You are right - it is really a bad idea

Before NCLB, we could exempt special ed kids from testing. But then, we were testing the KIDS. Now we are testing the SCHOOL.

And let's face it, life is a bell curve. Not everyone can be on the high side of the bell.