From: "Suzanne Heath" To: "Pam Wright" Subject: Fw: NCLB Date: Thursday, June 05, 2003 9:25 AM ----- Original Message ----- From: Suzanne Heath To: momof410882@yahoo.com Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 9:23 AM Subject: Re: NCLB Dear Sandra, I would not worry about his performance on the No Child Left Behind testing at all. Those tests are designed to test whether or not the school is able to teach its students grade-level work. In your son's case, they have not been successful and it will be reflected in his scores unless the test is multiple choice. I think the more immediate concern is that your son learn how to write. Learning to type may help him get his ideas on paper, but you need to know if that is his only problem. It may be that he needs to learn how to form the paragraphs in his mind prior to getting them on paper. Even if he earns to type his papers he will still need to write a grocery list or take a phone message. He needs you to help him find a way to do that. If your son has an IEP it does not sound as if it has been effective. You need an outside evaluation to tell you if your child has the physical ability to form the letters, and to tell you what type of remediation he needs for his written expression problems. An illiterate seventh grader is cause for concern. There is not much time left to teach him the skills he needs to graduate, get a job, and live independently. Whatever has been happening in school has not worked. Stop going in that direction and get an outside evaluation that will tell you what he needs and how long it should take him to get up to grade level. Then take that evaluation to the school and require them to teach him to write. If he has fallen this far behind, and you have been unable to get the help for him before now, it might be a good idea to get the help of an advocate to teach you how to advocate for your son and to help you to navigate the special education system. General resources for your state are listed here http://www.fetaweb.com/help/states.htm, scroll down to your state The International Dyslexia Association branch on your state can help you find an evaluator and an advocate. Visit their website and then call them. http://www.interdys.org/jsp/branch/branch-list.jsp. If you have trouble finding resources in your state, write back and I will see if I can find someone locally for you. Sue Heath ----- Original Message ----- From: Sandra Miller To: newsletter@wrightslaw.com Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 8:27 AM Subject: NCLB Hello: I was just reading the question and response to the NCLB law. The measurement was to be proficiant in reading, math and science by 2014. How would that effect a child who can test peoficient in reading if he can dictate the answers? My son can not write a paragragh about what he has read that makes sense. His written work is like morse code and his had writting is that of a second grader. He is in the 7th grade and reads and comprhends at early eighth but can't express him self in written form and all jobs require some form of written work. Thank you