My Views on No Child Left Behind

As a first year special needs teacher, I have mixed feelings about the No Child Left Behind Law. I taught a 5th grade special needs class and they had to take the mandated 5th grade New Jersey Ask tests in math and reading. My students functioned far below the fifth grade level. They had not mastered many math and reading concepts that fifth graders in regular classes had learned due to their disabilities. Some of them could hardly read or comprehend the questions on the tests. Others with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder could not sit still while taking the test. Needless to say, many did not score very well on the New Jersey Ask due to these circumstances. While, the tests for the regular fifth graders might be considered adequate to determine whether they met the standard for their grade level.

The pressure on teachers were tremendous as our principal stressed how important it was for the students to do well on the state tests. All of us were aware that if our students failed, our school could be labeled a failing school, thereby jeopardizing jobs of teachers and administrators as well as funds that the school really needed could be taken away. As a result, the teachers spent most of the school year preparing students for the state tests.

My hope is that parents, teachers, administrators and advocates for children with disabilities should lobby for changes in the No Child Left Behind Law that will allow students who are functioning below their grade levels not to be forced to take the grade level standardized state tests. Also, they should persuade state and federal officials to permit a variety of assessments instead of only standardized testing. Other assessments could be in the form of class work, homework, tests, quizzes, writing and math journals, oral and drama presentations and pictorial portfolios. I believe all of these different assessments as well as standardized testing are all methods that could be used to fairly evaluate students.