Question about testing again

[pimmy]

Jodi from NJ, here, brief scenario, my daughter age 9, autistic, mainstream regular classroom with a 1:1 aide, all day, pulled out for speech, ot, and social skills class. Aide does all of the modifications on tests, and classwork if needed. Transitions child through the day if needed as well. School will be doing testing come March 2007, they are called ASK3 tests. Can anyone point me in the direction for the regs. for NJ, are these tests just for NJ or nationwide. I am looking for the guidelines for the testing? Certain modifications, extra time, also does she need to be separated from her peers for the testing? IEP states, modifications allowed, for example, highlight key words, reword material she doesn't understand, extra time allowed and only to have an alternative setting as per parents request. As of today, she follows the general ed. curriculum with her peers, and I don't believe she needs to be placed in another classroom to take these tests. She hasn't had to have any extra time at all in the last three years since she has been mainstreamed so far. Can they make me remove her to do so? CST states it would be in her best interest to do so. I don't believe that it would be in her best interest to have her test, in another classroom with children she doesn't know, with a teacher she doesn't know. Any information I would appreciate...Jodi and Sarah

[Lisa S]

I don't know about that particular test, but my daughter had CSAP tests, which are Colorado achievment tests to insure that the schools are educating the children. Catherine has accomodations for this test, but she takes the same CSAP test the other children take. If she needs accomodations, then it would be better if she takes the test one-on-one with her aide, I think, because then the aide can deliver the modifications without disturbing any of the other children. I can't imagine that they intend for Sarah to take it with other children with an unfamiliar adult.

[pimmy]

Thanks for replying back to me so soon Lisa, yes that's exactly what they are proposing, so I am going to veto that. I can't believe that Sarah would do any good with unfamiliar surroundings. Do you know what kind of accomodations they did for you, change wording at all, the way they explained the directions, because that's what I believe that Sarah would need. I do not want her to be removed from her class to take them. Never a dull moment....Jodi and sarah

[Lisa S]

For Catherine, taking it by herself with her aide was a very good thing, but I see why it might be not as good for Sarah.

They did tons of things for Catherine, but I don't know if I can remember them all. She was allowed to take the test broken up into parts, with frequent breaks. If it was not a writing test, they were allowed to scribe for her if she needed them to. If it was not a reading comprehension test, they were allowed to read it to her.

They had several kids who were one-on-one in quiet places for the CSAP tests. Any child who could benefit from quiet or who perhaps took it late had a quiet place to take it. It might be better for the other kids who need quiet to have Sarah or Catherine take it in a conference room or some other quiet place with their aides rather than have their aides reading the directions to them in the classroom.

[pimmy]

Thanks for your in-put I have a school conference this coming Monday, with Sarah's teacher, CST, my husband and myself, not an IEP meeting, but I just know that this is going to come up before Sarah has to take the tests, and I wanted to get a jump start on some ideas to propose to them, when the time comes. For me to be one step ahead, to sign off on "terms" before we begin testing. Its amazing though, Sarah will come home from school and tell me, that such-n-such is going to be on the tests, already, I just hope it isn't going to become an OCD issue with her, and that I am going to clarify on Monday as well. I don't want Sarah stressed already, for something that is not going to happen for months....thanks again....Jodi and Sarah