I’d rather have a goddam horse. A horse is at least human, for God’s sake.

Yep, you read that right.  No Child Left behind is getting revamped to include more common sense, to help out special education students and those students who are learning English.  According to Michael Petrilli, an expert on NCLB,

“The No Child Left Behind law was not well designed for the two groups of students.  They are not going to meet the same standards at the same pace as other students.”

This is what educators have been saying since the very beginning of No Child Left Behind, way back in 2002.  However, the legislation was put into effect anyway, even though it didn’t meet the needs of two significant groups of students, and possibly even harmed them.  But now, nearly five years later, lawmakers are going back and fixing their mistakes and injecting common sense into what they do.  Shouldn’t common sense have been a major player in the original version of the law?

According to the Times Dailyarticle from October 21st, lawmakers hope to have the revised NCLB put into effect by the end of 2007.  However, other sources find that doubtful, as huge changes must be made to correct the problems.  Currently, students with an IQ above 56 are required to take the standard exam from the general curriculum, regardless of any modifications they might have.  One example the article cites is 7th-grader Addison Holt, who is Autistic and has and individualized lesson plan (IEP) in her middle school.  Quoted in the article, Addison’s mother, Karen Holt, critized NCLB, saying

“Working a two- or three-step math problem won’t help her. She needs to know how to pay a cashier and expect change back. We’ve asked for alternate assessment for her but they can’t legally do it, so she just has to sit there, not having a clue what she’s doing on tests. It’s frustrating for all of us.”

The bill does allow for some students to take an alternate exam, which is a shorter, easier version of the standard curriculum exam.  However, only one percent of the school population is allowed to do so, and the student must have an IQ of 55 or below.  Because it is nearly impossible to get an IQ reading on an Autistic child, Addison has to take the standard exam.

 I find it absolutely ridiculous that Autistic children, no matter how- or low-functioning they are, are forced to take a standard assessment, even though they might not even be able to comprehend the directions, let alone the tasks, just because a quota has been filled.  I knew that special education students were required to take the same tests as those in a normal classroom, but I never expected that an Autistic child, or her older sister, who as Asperger’s Syndrome, would be included in that number.

 It’s about time that No Child Left Behind was modified–or done away with altogether–but shouldn’t these factors have been taken into consideration the first time around?

No Child Left Behind?

Lawmakers aim to infuse common sense into law regarding special education students

Lisa Singelton-Rickman, October 21, 2007

Times Daily