Gifted children do not always fare well on Standardized tests and school districts do not really like to have to have gifted programs, most try to do away with them- and that is where many of these "disabled" children would properly fit. THere are numerous reasons for that fact. All a parent needs to do is work with a school district board to hear about the politics of gifted programs. The simple truth is parents need to be advocates for their child and throughly explore the reasons why a public school or any system would benefit from labeling their child as disabled or ADD and ADHD- before they let the drugging begin.
Special Education children are EXEMPT from national testing??? Since WHEN?? According to NCLB students with an IEP must meet the same standards as non-disabled students. In fact, many schools are failing the AYP goals because of low scores in the sped sector. When my district examimed the regs, we found we could exempt **FIVE** percent of the total sped population. That is outrageous! Last year we had students with IQ's in the 50's and 60's taking on grade level math, English and reading exams. I personally read a test to a non=verbal autistic student who pointed randomly to answers on flash cards. He had not a clue what was going on.
As far a "drugging" you are quite fixated on that topic for some reason. Medicaing a chlld for a documented problem is not drugging.