Why Retain? - It Didn't Work the First Time
by Sue Whitney, Research Editor, Wrightslaw
Print
this page
Michelle Asks:
"The school wants to retain my son. He is in
kindergarten with an IEP. His latest DIBELS test shows him to be at moderate risk of
failure in some areas and high risk in others.
I've read that retention is not a good option and that any short term gains disappear in the long run.
The
principal says that
he has 'recent' research that shows the benefits of retention.
He says the recommendations
for phonological awareness instruction is too new to show the long term benefits of retention."
Sue Responds:
The reason for progress monitoring is to know if and when more intensive reading instruction is needed, not to see who should redo the same
unsuccessful reading instruction all over again for a second year.
Ask the person who is quoting the retention "research" for a copy of what he
is talking about. Otherwise, ignore it.
The Real Issue
If your
son could have learned to read with this type and level of instruction he
would have already learned to read.
The principal is just attempting to take the
focus off the real issue. Your son has not learned to read even after
several tiers of increased intensity of instruction.
1. You should copy the National Association of School Psychologist's (NASP) position
statement on grade retention to clarify the retention discussion.
2. Write a
letter requesting a complete evaluation to determine if your child has a
disability.
Go to this Parent Information Center website to find a sample letter requesting an evaluation. On the left hand column, click
on "Special Education." Under "Resources/Publications" you'll find a listing of "Sample Letters."
Definition of Reading
The term 'reading' means a complex system of
deriving meaning from print that requires all of the following:
(A) The
skills and knowledge to understand how phonemes, or speech sounds, are
connected to print.
(B) The ability to decode unfamiliar words.
(C) The
ability to read fluently.
(D) Sufficient background information and
vocabulary to foster reading comprehension.
(E) The development of
appropriate active strategies to construct meaning from print.
(F) The
development and maintenance of a motivation to read.
20 U.S.C. § 6368 (5) No Child Left Behind
Florida Center for Reading Research
http://www.fcrr.org/
This is information on what an appropriate reading evaluation should contain
http://www.interdys.org/ewebeditpro5/upload/TestingandEvaluation.pdf
The National Center for Learning Disabilities has an excellent checklist to
use to refine your concerns and to help you ask the referral team to
investigate all areas of concern.
http://www.ncld.org/publications-a-more/checklists-worksheets-a-forms/ld-checklist-of-signs-and-symptoms
The American Federation of Teachers website has an excellent article about
the need to avoid delay in getting appropriate instruction, Preventing Early
Reading Failure
http://www.aft.org/newspubs/periodicals/ae/fall2004/torgesen.cfm
Framework for Informed Reading and Language Instruction: Matrix of Multisensory Structured Language Programs. This publication from the International Dyslexia Association explains different reading programs and what they cover. These
programs, when properly implemented, have been
successful in teaching students to read, write, and use
language.
http://www.interdys.org/ewebeditpro5/upload/MSL2007finalR1.pdf
If you get the run around please do not hesitate to check in again for
additional information or links.
Good Luck,
Sue Whitney
To Top
Created: 02/25/09
Revised: 01/14/11
Meet Sue Whitney
Sue Whitney of Merrimack, New
Hampshire, is the research editor for Wrightslaw.
Sue is the co-author of Wrightslaw: No Child Left Behind (ISBN: 978-1-892320-12-4) that is
published by Harbor House Law Press.
In Doing Your Homework, she
writes about reading, research based instruction, No Child Left Behind, and
creative
strategies for using federal education standards to advocate for
children
and to improve public schools. Her articles have been reprinted by SchwabLearning.org, EducationNews.org, Bridges4Kids.org, The Beacon: Journal of Special Education Law and Practice, the Schafer Autism Report, and have been used in CLE presentations to attorneys. Sue Whitney's bio.
Sue has served on New Hampshire's Special Education State
Advisory
Committee on the Education of Students/Children with Disabilities
(SAC) and
has been a volunteer educational surrogate parent. She currently works with families as a special education advocate.
Copyright
© 2002-2012 by Suzanne Whitney.
