Accountability should extend to special education. Through accountability we are able to assess our education of children, and the progress made through our current system. Extending accountability will allow us to take a good look at our system, and evaluate the appropriateness of it. Special education should be included in standardized testing. Excluding them from this state accountability, is just one more way they will be segregated from the school population. Currently, accountability does extend to special education.
According to NCLB, all students should be proficient in reading/language arts, math, and science. This includes students in special education. Thus, students in special education are held to the standards that students in regular education. NCLB also address the quality of our teachers and the methods of teaching used. These assessments of our teaching staff do not stop at regular education. This includes special education staff. For example, paraprofessionals must have an associates degree.
Currently, students in special education are included in statewide standardized testing. I think this practice should continue. These students are given accommodations during the testing, and some children are able to take an alternative test to the STAR that is more appropriate to their disability. Students can be given extra time, dictated responses, large print, Braille, and interpretation for instructions. These accommodations allow students to participate in standardized testing. If a child cannot take the assessment even with accommodations, an alternative test is available known as the California Alternative Performance Assessment.
