they dumped kids into her class who weren’t truly disabled in order to brag about the teacher-student ratio in other classes.
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Not only that, but also to bolster their standardized test scores. Spec ed kids’ test scores aren’t figured into the general ed population’s test scores, so it makes their school look better. Also better for the gen ed teachers who don’t have to have the kid who will pull down her class’s test score averages. Teachers are evaluated on their students’ standardized scores.
Under No Child Left Behind, every sub-groups’ test scores counted. Every minority imaginable, free/reduced lunch, special ed, all had to have a set level test as ‘proficient’ or above. Each year the % required was increased. At some point 100% were expected to test at ‘proficient’. The impossible expectation was why the plan had to be scrapped.
Special ed kids did have modifications on their tests, but their scores were counted. If one subgroup in one school didn’t meet the goals, the whole district was scored as ‘not meeting goals’. Crazy.