School Attendance Law “Gone Awry”
This article discuss the challenges of meeting the ‘No Child Left Behind’ standards. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/13/AR2008101302863.html?nav=rss_educationThis article focuses on a Kensington Special Education Center in Washington. This particular school in 2006 and 2007 was failing according to the federal law for low test score. This year the Kensington school has meet the requirements for reading and math but not is being sanctioned for poor attendance.
Kensington’s principle Stephen Knolls has been on the states list for under performing schools because of the attendance situations the center. The sad thing about this situation is that students with disabilities are getting caught up in political of the federal No child Left Behind law. under this law schools must show improvements in test scores, attendance and graduation rates for all students and groups or students including those who receive special education. Because many of the students have conditions such as cerebralpalsy, spina bifida, Rett syndrome, and severe physical and cognitive disabilities students have legitimate reasons for not to show up to school. Some students may be going to medical specialist having lab work done, being hospitalized or ill causing them to miss days of school.
When reading this article i though about how the No Child Left Behind law is flawed in its design. I understand that the intentions are to better educate students and set standards in an education which all students should be receiving. But i think that the way they are going about reaching these goals and standards are not fair. In this situation it show a school who is willing to meet the requirements on the federal law but are being sanctioned for a situation that is beyond anyone controls. I do beleive that is important that the student at Kensington received an education that is granted to the general education student but since that have more needs one being medical in think that the attendance part of the law should be overlooked. I think that the state and federal officals should focus more on the progress of the students reading and math rather then attenance in these cases.
Very good blog, Tavia. I work with special education students and many are absent because they are truly ill. NCLB is indeed flawed and although it may have great intentions it leaves out alot of students for many reasons. As educators we have to be sensitive to our students with special needs. NCLB is sensitive to no one and doesn’t take economics, culture, or anything into account. NCLB needs to be either eliminated or revamped to truly reflect an attempt to provide quality instruction to all students.