Opting out of sols

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed does not equal "Low". Parents are not privy to the list of kids with IEPs. Kids are often grouped by needed interventions because Sped is always short staffed. So, the kids who are pulled out for Math or LA may be in the same class, and then those who have an aid in GenEd may be grouped together. Being in Sped has absolutely nothing to do with SOL scores and is due to a long-established IEP process.

Yes it does. Sped usually means learning difficulties such that a regular classroom teacher can’t manage without a specialist. Kids who qualify for IEPs usually are below grade level in some area. That’s considered low. Those kids are also at risk of failing the SOLs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is excellent practice at taking a test. Why do you want to opt out?

This. My older kid is not a great tester, but we had him do them because in high school they matter. They stressed him out the first year or 2 of elementary, but then it just became a thing you do. By highschool he didn't worry much, but for the ones that required prep, he prepared and did great. It's like the SAT in some ways. His first PSAT was traumatic. He was stressed, wiped out, couldn't believe how long it was and never wanted to do it again. The second one he was a little stressed, but mostly perky and fine when it was over. (It helped it was a little shorter because it was online). He's not upset at the idea of taking an SAT whereas after his first PSAT he said he never wanted to do such a test again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No way they put all the low kids in one class. As a teacher who is livid at the amount of time spent on teaching to the test, and the way these testing companies are getting rich, I wish everyone would opt out.

If you keep the kid home, they will just have the kid take it another day in the several-week window.

This is a very effective technique for principals to get rid of teachers they don’t like for whatever reason without having to do any paperwork. Put all the kids who are struggling academically and/or have behavior issues together in one class and watch that teacher lose their sanity. They also like to have a few strong students in those classes to serve as “role models” to make it look more “reasonable.” This is easy enough because some kids with IEPs are fine academically, and some kids with behavior issues are also on or above grade level. So not every single kid in there will be low performing, but anyone can see that the class is intentionally set up to fail. These difficult classes are classes that regular subs know to refuse. They can only get the subs who don’t know anything to go in or they have to pull another teacher to sub. This technique always work the few times I’ve seen it. One teacher quit mid-year and the others barely survived until the end of the year to transfer or move on.

Parents have no idea what’s going on unless they actually work there themselves or their child ends up in a similar class and tells them something. Many kids don’t tell their parents anything and some parents don’t care at all or they don’t believe their kids. I have only seen 1 parent figure it out because her child was a strong student who complained to her. While she believed her kid she couldn’t do anything about it at the time. She moved him to a different school the year after.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way they put all the low kids in one class. As a teacher who is livid at the amount of time spent on teaching to the test, and the way these testing companies are getting rich, I wish everyone would opt out.

If you keep the kid home, they will just have the kid take it another day in the several-week window.

This is a very effective technique for principals to get rid of teachers they don’t like for whatever reason without having to do any paperwork. Put all the kids who are struggling academically and/or have behavior issues together in one class and watch that teacher lose their sanity. They also like to have a few strong students in those classes to serve as “role models” to make it look more “reasonable.” This is easy enough because some kids with IEPs are fine academically, and some kids with behavior issues are also on or above grade level. So not every single kid in there will be low performing, but anyone can see that the class is intentionally set up to fail. These difficult classes are classes that regular subs know to refuse. They can only get the subs who don’t know anything to go in or they have to pull another teacher to sub. This technique always work the few times I’ve seen it. One teacher quit mid-year and the others barely survived until the end of the year to transfer or move on.

Parents have no idea what’s going on unless they actually work there themselves or their child ends up in a similar class and tells them something. Many kids don’t tell their parents anything and some parents don’t care at all or they don’t believe their kids. I have only seen 1 parent figure it out because her child was a strong student who complained to her. While she believed her kid she couldn’t do anything about it at the time. She moved him to a different school the year after.

In tune parents actually know. We know who the problem kids are and we know who the IEP kids are. For whatever reason they make one class with all the IEP kids and the problem kids. It’s awful to be stuck with that class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed does not equal "Low". Parents are not privy to the list of kids with IEPs. Kids are often grouped by needed interventions because Sped is always short staffed. So, the kids who are pulled out for Math or LA may be in the same class, and then those who have an aid in GenEd may be grouped together. Being in Sped has absolutely nothing to do with SOL scores and is due to a long-established IEP process.

Yes it does. Sped usually means learning difficulties such that a regular classroom teacher can’t manage without a specialist. Kids who qualify for IEPs usually are below grade level in some area. That’s considered low. Those kids are also at risk of failing the SOLs.

Do you have a child, or children in Special Education? It means getting an adapted curriculum, or the GenEd curriculum with supports. Have you ever heard of the term 2E (twice exceptional). There are gifted children who have conditions where they need support. It does NOT mean "low". Often, kids with IEPs will vary between below, average, and above grade level, depending on the subject and their own strengths and weaknesses.

To be honest, I may have very much been like the poster above had I not had my own SN child. It's been quite a journey to see him struggle, but overcome. And we, along, with teachers see how very intelligent he can be in some areas. It's outdated and insulting to write a whole group of kids off as "low".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed does not equal "Low". Parents are not privy to the list of kids with IEPs. Kids are often grouped by needed interventions because Sped is always short staffed. So, the kids who are pulled out for Math or LA may be in the same class, and then those who have an aid in GenEd may be grouped together. Being in Sped has absolutely nothing to do with SOL scores and is due to a long-established IEP process.

Yes it does. Sped usually means learning difficulties such that a regular classroom teacher can’t manage without a specialist. Kids who qualify for IEPs usually are below grade level in some area. That’s considered low. Those kids are also at risk of failing the SOLs.

This is BS. Some kids have IEP’s and don’t have any academic goals. Their goals are in other areas, but still may need access to the SPED teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed does not equal "Low". Parents are not privy to the list of kids with IEPs. Kids are often grouped by needed interventions because Sped is always short staffed. So, the kids who are pulled out for Math or LA may be in the same class, and then those who have an aid in GenEd may be grouped together. Being in Sped has absolutely nothing to do with SOL scores and is due to a long-established IEP process.

Yes it does. Sped usually means learning difficulties such that a regular classroom teacher can’t manage without a specialist. Kids who qualify for IEPs usually are below grade level in some area. That’s considered low. Those kids are also at risk of failing the SOLs.

Do you have a child, or children in Special Education? It means getting an adapted curriculum, or the GenEd curriculum with supports. Have you ever heard of the term 2E (twice exceptional). There are gifted children who have conditions where they need support. It does NOT mean "low". Often, kids with IEPs will vary between below, average, and above grade level, depending on the subject and their own strengths and weaknesses.

To be honest, I may have very much been like the poster above had I not had my own SN child. It's been quite a journey to see him struggle, but overcome. And we, along, with teachers see how very intelligent he can be in some areas. It's outdated and insulting to write a whole group of kids off as "low".

Yes I do. My child was on an IEP but was not academically low. Notice how in my post I said “usually” when referring to IEP kids. Obviously not all, because that was the case with my own child. Unfortunately, my kid was automatically placed in the low class because they had an IEP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed does not equal "Low". Parents are not privy to the list of kids with IEPs. Kids are often grouped by needed interventions because Sped is always short staffed. So, the kids who are pulled out for Math or LA may be in the same class, and then those who have an aid in GenEd may be grouped together. Being in Sped has absolutely nothing to do with SOL scores and is due to a long-established IEP process.

Yes it does. Sped usually means learning difficulties such that a regular classroom teacher can’t manage without a specialist. Kids who qualify for IEPs usually are below grade level in some area. That’s considered low. Those kids are also at risk of failing the SOLs.

This is BS. Some kids have IEP’s and don’t have any academic goals. Their goals are in other areas, but still may need access to the SPED teacher

That’s correct. Like I said, usually kids with IEPs have learning difficulties. Obviously that doesn’t mean ALL. But at our school, they automatically place kids with IEPs in the same Gen Ed class no matter what. This usually translates to a very low performing, poorly behaved class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed does not equal "Low". Parents are not privy to the list of kids with IEPs. Kids are often grouped by needed interventions because Sped is always short staffed. So, the kids who are pulled out for Math or LA may be in the same class, and then those who have an aid in GenEd may be grouped together. Being in Sped has absolutely nothing to do with SOL scores and is due to a long-established IEP process.

Yes it does. Sped usually means learning difficulties such that a regular classroom teacher can’t manage without a specialist. Kids who qualify for IEPs usually are below grade level in some area. That’s considered low. Those kids are also at risk of failing the SOLs.

This is BS. Some kids have IEP’s and don’t have any academic goals. Their goals are in other areas, but still may need access to the SPED teacher

That’s correct. Like I said, usually kids with IEPs have learning difficulties. Obviously that doesn’t mean ALL. But at our school, they automatically place kids with IEPs in the same Gen Ed class no matter what. This usually translates to a very low performing, poorly behaved class.

You sound unintelligent yourself. You write nonsense and falsehoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed does not equal "Low". Parents are not privy to the list of kids with IEPs. Kids are often grouped by needed interventions because Sped is always short staffed. So, the kids who are pulled out for Math or LA may be in the same class, and then those who have an aid in GenEd may be grouped together. Being in Sped has absolutely nothing to do with SOL scores and is due to a long-established IEP process.

Yes it does. Sped usually means learning difficulties such that a regular classroom teacher can’t manage without a specialist. Kids who qualify for IEPs usually are below grade level in some area. That’s considered low. Those kids are also at risk of failing the SOLs.

One of those failing kids is mine. Good grades in HS but he cannot pass a single SOL. That test format is just not for him, despite all the accommodations he gets. He is very stressed out about SOLs. He is terrified he won't graduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never understand why -w/o exceptional situations- people opt out. The test taking is good practice and don't you want to see some barometer of where your kid is? The tests are not super onerous and I never made my kids study for them.

She’s afraid her kid will fail and be put in the loser class the next year as a result.

Our ES did not do this but this was several years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed does not equal "Low". Parents are not privy to the list of kids with IEPs. Kids are often grouped by needed interventions because Sped is always short staffed. So, the kids who are pulled out for Math or LA may be in the same class, and then those who have an aid in GenEd may be grouped together. Being in Sped has absolutely nothing to do with SOL scores and is due to a long-established IEP process.

Yes it does. Sped usually means learning difficulties such that a regular classroom teacher can’t manage without a specialist. Kids who qualify for IEPs usually are below grade level in some area. That’s considered low. Those kids are also at risk of failing the SOLs.

This is BS. Some kids have IEP’s and don’t have any academic goals. Their goals are in other areas, but still may need access to the SPED teacher

That’s correct. Like I said, usually kids with IEPs have learning difficulties. Obviously that doesn’t mean ALL. But at our school, they automatically place kids with IEPs in the same Gen Ed class no matter what. This usually translates to a very low performing, poorly behaved class.

You sound unintelligent yourself. You write nonsense and falsehoods.

Sure. I write what I know. My kid was on an IEP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed does not equal "Low". Parents are not privy to the list of kids with IEPs. Kids are often grouped by needed interventions because Sped is always short staffed. So, the kids who are pulled out for Math or LA may be in the same class, and then those who have an aid in GenEd may be grouped together. Being in Sped has absolutely nothing to do with SOL scores and is due to a long-established IEP process.

Yes it does. Sped usually means learning difficulties such that a regular classroom teacher can’t manage without a specialist. Kids who qualify for IEPs usually are below grade level in some area. That’s considered low. Those kids are also at risk of failing the SOLs.

This is BS. Some kids have IEP’s and don’t have any academic goals. Their goals are in other areas, but still may need access to the SPED teacher

That’s correct. Like I said, usually kids with IEPs have learning difficulties. Obviously that doesn’t mean ALL. But at our school, they automatically place kids with IEPs in the same Gen Ed class no matter what. This usually translates to a very low performing, poorly behaved class.

You sound unintelligent yourself. You write nonsense and falsehoods.

It is a fact that kids with IEPs usually have some kid of learning disability. How is that a falsehood? There are exceptions, of course, but what I said is a fact and not a put down. I’m sorry you can’t face reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed does not equal "Low". Parents are not privy to the list of kids with IEPs. Kids are often grouped by needed interventions because Sped is always short staffed. So, the kids who are pulled out for Math or LA may be in the same class, and then those who have an aid in GenEd may be grouped together. Being in Sped has absolutely nothing to do with SOL scores and is due to a long-established IEP process.

Yes it does. Sped usually means learning difficulties such that a regular classroom teacher can’t manage without a specialist. Kids who qualify for IEPs usually are below grade level in some area. That’s considered low. Those kids are also at risk of failing the SOLs.

This is BS. Some kids have IEP’s and don’t have any academic goals. Their goals are in other areas, but still may need access to the SPED teacher

That’s correct. Like I said, usually kids with IEPs have learning difficulties. Obviously that doesn’t mean ALL. But at our school, they automatically place kids with IEPs in the same Gen Ed class no matter what. This usually translates to a very low performing, poorly behaved class.

But your first 3 words were: Yes it does. That part was very off-putting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed does not equal "Low". Parents are not privy to the list of kids with IEPs. Kids are often grouped by needed interventions because Sped is always short staffed. So, the kids who are pulled out for Math or LA may be in the same class, and then those who have an aid in GenEd may be grouped together. Being in Sped has absolutely nothing to do with SOL scores and is due to a long-established IEP process.

Yes it does. Sped usually means learning difficulties such that a regular classroom teacher can’t manage without a specialist. Kids who qualify for IEPs usually are below grade level in some area. That’s considered low. Those kids are also at risk of failing the SOLs.

Do you have a child, or children in Special Education? It means getting an adapted curriculum, or the GenEd curriculum with supports. Have you ever heard of the term 2E (twice exceptional). There are gifted children who have conditions where they need support. It does NOT mean "low". Often, kids with IEPs will vary between below, average, and above grade level, depending on the subject and their own strengths and weaknesses.

To be honest, I may have very much been like the poster above had I not had my own SN child. It's been quite a journey to see him struggle, but overcome. And we, along, with teachers see how very intelligent he can be in some areas. It's outdated and insulting to write a whole group of kids off as "low".

Yes I do. My child was on an IEP but was not academically low. Notice how in my post I said “usually” when referring to IEP kids. Obviously not all, because that was the case with my own child. Unfortunately, my kid was automatically placed in the low class because they had an IEP.

PP. That's really unfortunate for your school then. My DC is in 4th and that has NEVER been the case.