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Showing Original Post only (View all)Obama needs to call Arne Duncan out for his new tactics for special education students. [View all]
The Secretary of Education of a Democratic administration has just announced that he is pushing for a harder curriculum and expanded testing for students with special needs.
This is a dangerous thing to say, and it will do much harm. I expect there to be someone in authority telling Arne Duncan the truth about this policy. So far, nothing but outrage from educators. No leaders in politics in power telling him he is wrong.
If the president does not approve of this new idea of Arne's that problems of special education will be solved by harder curriculum and more testing, then he should say so. If he is silent then it must be assumed he is either unaware of it or he agrees.
It is a dangerous and harmful policy.
Arne Duncan Proposes New Accountability for Special Education by Diane Ravitch.
Duncan actually said the following: We know that when students with disabilities are held to high expectations and have access to a robust curriculum, they excel.
Really? Guess he doesnt know that not all special needs will disappear with the right curriculum, standards, and testing. Guess he subscribes to the same thinking as school administrators who believe kids will outgrow their learning disabilities and differences, thereby requiring fewer support services as they mature. Thats one way to justify cutbacks in the services they need and the special educators and therapists who administer them.
Yes, we should have high expectations for children with special needs. But access to a robust curriculum is not the answer. Nor is testing them. Nor is threatening their teachers and schools in the same manner as Duncans approach to general education.
There is more about it in the Washington Post.
Obama expands use of standardized tests for special-needs and American Indian students
The president and his education secretary, Arne Duncan, have for years been using student standardized test scores to hold students, teachers and principals accountable even though assessment experts say they arent reliable enough to be used for that purpose. Assessment experts say that tests should be used only for the purpose for which they were designed and nothing else, yet the administration keeps finding additional ways to use standardized test results in ways that are questionable.
Earlier this week, Duncan announced that the administration was tightening its oversight of states in regard to how they educate special-needs students, applying more stringent criteria. From now on, the department will not only consider whether proper procedures are being conducted but on outcomes, including how well these students score on standardized tests and the achievement gap, based on test scores, between students with and without disabilities.
How well special education students perform on a test called the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, will be one of the factors considered. This marks the first time that NAEP scores have been attached to any education policy that has potential consequences; the Education Department could withhold federal funds to states that dont comply with the new special education regulations, though officials there said that is not something they want to do. But NAEP, a test given every two years to a nationally representative sampling of students, wasnt designed for this purpose. When asked by reporters about whether using NAEP for this purpose was turning it into a high-stakes test, Duncan said, I wouldnt call it high stakes. He said his department was using NAEP because, however imperfect, it was the only accurate measurement we have.
One of the latest twitter pics says it more clearly than I ever could.
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Obama needs to call Arne Duncan out for his new tactics for special education students. [View all]
madfloridian
Jun 2014
OP
Agreed. Next we will be hearing that with the right therapy and treatment, people with mild,
DhhD
Jun 2014
#23
Thanks for your comments. The ARD sounds like a more advanced form of what we called
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#36
Yes! Applause and much appreciation for madfloridian and Diane Ravitch - both are heroes.
DamnYankeeInHouston
Jun 2014
#38
Since we're 6 years in and Arne hasn't been fired yet, I am going to assume that the president
Doctor_J
Jun 2014
#13
Sadly, I think Pres Obama has given Arne a free hand to do what he wants. As an
riversedge
Jun 2014
#7
there is no correlation between expecting academic progress and high stakes testing nt
msongs
Jun 2014
#26
You know what? You are really making up stuff that is not even implied in the OP or in anything...
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#45
Are you saying, then, that high expectations and a good curriculum are unnecessary?
Android3.14
Jun 2014
#55
Each new IEP is set at a higher than the previous expectation and curriculum objectives. IEP
DhhD
Jun 2014
#67
When I taught Down Syndrome kids in 2010 , I had to teach them Algebra if they were HS age.
Smarmie Doofus
Jun 2014
#68
No, I'm saying that in the special ed classroom, there's little incentive for progress.
lumberjack_jeff
Jun 2014
#146
OK. But I was originally referencing specifically kids w. Down Syndrome:
Smarmie Doofus
Jun 2014
#178
It must be painful to hear for those who work with special ed, and for parents of students
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#32
You, your son, the teacher all are responsible for his education. What are his needs, what will make
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#58
I am wondering how long you can throw accusations at me without people noticing....
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#64
A nasty and ridiculous post that underscores your lack of argument here.
woo me with science
Jun 2014
#88
You love that word "wierd" & used it in several posts, & a great adjective to dismiss something
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#142
Current testing does not decide the academic future of the student - it just determines the school's
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#65
The only repercussions if a student decides to tank a test is to the school & teacher. A student can
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#69
Holy Smoke, where do I begin? 1st I don't demand anything from you. 2nd "some hypothetical
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#85
It is demeaning. The child should be seen as a child 1st - not "some special ed child" your words
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#140
Do you know what the word "Standardized" means, as in "Standardized Testing"?
WinkyDink
Jun 2014
#135
Are you aware that Testing is what a Charter School group of Profiteers uses to take down public
DhhD
Jun 2014
#70
No, it is true. Already happening. Be sure of your facts before you accuse me.
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#47
If I taught? Yes, I taught for many years. You think I am troubling in what I post? Accusation...
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#56
Substituting Common Core for an IEP is what Duncan is trying to change. Profiteers like Mitt
DhhD
Jun 2014
#72
IEP = Individualized Education Plan, which is developed between parents & group of specialists,
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#76
It's your assertion, it's incumbent upon you to provide links to back it up...
lumberjack_jeff
Jun 2014
#90
It is cruel to put demands & pressures on a child who does not have the ability to
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#44
Helping the special needs child towards his/her best possible future, w/their self esteem intact is
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#62
These students do have a rigorous curriculum. Expectations/demands are made and tracked.
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#138
No, madfloridian is not making stuff up. No, not writing misleading stuff.
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#48
Yes....we with disabled children are "clueless." I mean....why would anyone take us into
msanthrope
Jun 2014
#167
You're getting the 'special treatment' because you're 'threateningly' effective.
Mc Mike
Jun 2014
#118
I know what they are doing. Just told me again that I posted misinformation.
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#121
It gives you an idea how *little* either of them understands about *any* of it.
Smarmie Doofus
Jun 2014
#59
Good for you. Impressive group. Whew, I hope this post is worth the bruises I've gotten.
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#61
AD knows. Of course, he knows. But he ALSO knows that there's $$$ to be made from selling
WinkyDink
Jun 2014
#77
So after your last thread on this hit a mighty FAIL...you start a new thread????
msanthrope
Jun 2014
#96
Thank you for emphasizing my point...that the OP discussed none of this at all, but instead relied
msanthrope
Jun 2014
#164
TN school head on conference call with Obama...SP Ed should take same test as all others.
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#101
No, my "last post" was not a FAIL...I linked to it in this OP. Was the link even read?
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#109
Keep on posting, madfloridian, we need to get more people to understand this issue.
greatlaurel
Jun 2014
#125
As the father of a special needs child, I'm appalled. Sadly, though, I'm not surprised. Duncan ...
Scuba
Jun 2014
#133
I'm appalled at most everything Duncan has done. More testing for special needs kids? Another ...
Scuba
Jun 2014
#137
You can assume whatever you like. Duncan is bad for schools, kids and their parents.
Scuba
Jun 2014
#147
madfloridian - I appreciate you & your efforts to help children. THANK YOU! nt
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#141
I just watched GOP Reince Prebus on MTP using similar verbiage/language as some DU posters
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#144
Also - Thank you for staying to fight the good fight. DU is often tedious to read due to
AnotherMother4Peace
Jun 2014
#149
Since you feel that you're the arbiter of what is 'substantive', your demand is impossible to
Mc Mike
Jun 2014
#186
SO you would rather IMPLY I lie about being retired teacher...won't come out and say it?
madfloridian
Jul 2014
#189
Another post with same problems. Did not believe I was a teacher. June 11
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#166
Well, you alerted on me for posting "old stuff" but it is not against the rules.
msanthrope
Jun 2014
#168
So you admit to posting old threads, but alerting on me for posting old threads? nt
msanthrope
Jun 2014
#171
Well, I link to your old posts, too! What of it? Are you suggesting that on DEMOCRATIC
msanthrope
Jun 2014
#173
Are you referring to Goose, gander? Old saying, very old. Older than Ronnie.
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#174
OMG...did you miss where you quoted RR? Come on....I know you and I are both old enough
msanthrope
Jun 2014
#175
This is getting to be disturbing. I don't know even what to say to you anymore.
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#179
First off, I'm not a dude. 2nd you are really reaching on that reagan stuff
madfloridian
Jun 2014
#184