Parents, advocates split over requiring students to pass tests to graduate

From the Baltimore Sun:

With thousands of special-education students in Maryland high schools failing the state’s graduation exams, parents and advocates are deeply divided about whether these students should have to pass the tests … While about two-thirds or more of students are passing the tests, only about one-third of those in special education are doing so.

… On one side of the discussion are parents and advocates who believe the tests are not fair and place too little emphasis on how a student does in classes … but others see the tests as forcing school systems to push special-education students to higher levels.

… In March, state Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick announced that she would propose delaying the tests for students for whom English is a second language, special-education students and those with mild learning disabilities who are classified as having “504 plans.”

But she changed her mind and proposed in August that any student who fails the tests several times be allowed to submit a senior project instead.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 22nd, 2007 at 10:20 am and is filed under No Child Left Behind, graduation, special education, standardized testing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.  Email This Post