Pavlak: Standardized Testing for Special Education Students Needs to Change

Editor's note: The following letter was submitted for publication by Donald Pavlak Jr., a member of the Wayne Board of Education. The letter was originally addressed to Christopher Cref, New Jersey's acting commissioner of education.

Dear Commissioner Cerf,

I am writing to you as a member of the Wayne Township Board of Education and as a parent of a special needs child in regard to standardized testing.  The special education population in Wayne Township continues to grow each year and the district is meeting the needs of each and every student in the programs.  Each student receives modifications and accommodation in accordance with their Individualized Education Plans (IEP) which is a legal document accepted by the court. Then why is a student’s IEP enforced for 177 days of the school year, and yet is blatantly ignored during state testing?

The modifications and accommodations provided for state testing are inadequate and virtually non-existent for these students. The state of New Jersey is failing our special needs population; not the Wayne School Districts and its teachers.

It is my belief that if a child study team determines that a student has a learning disability and an IEP is put into place, then for obvious reasons, it is unrealistic and unethical to have the same type of assessment expectations as that of typical or non-disabled peers. 

The Wayne School District utilizes Differentiated Instruction, to make modifications and accommodations for our special needs population.  These  modifications may  allow students to use a multiplication table-chart to complete math problems, a dictionary/thesaurus to complete writing tasks, or refer to various supplementary materials that can be utilized throughout the classrooms. Yet, on testing day, these same modifications and resources are taken away, basically leaving special needs students on their own!   The only accommodations these students receive are verbal instruction which is read to them, and additional time.  I ask you, is this actual accommodation? Not in my book. 

My daughter is an auditory learner, but she is not allowed to have passages read to her during the comprehension section of the test. During the school year, her IEP calls for such accommodations as books-on-tape. When provided with this supplemental aid her knowledge soars. Her comprehension excels when allowed to hear the written word spoken. Yet she is unable to have similar accommodation during state testing.

 What are these tests measuring for our children? 

The accommodations which the state allows, in my opinion, are equivalent to telling a child who needs glasses they are not permitted on testing day.

I would ask that this matter be investigated and that action be taken to implement the changes so that all students with legal IEP’s are provided the modifications and accommodations which they are legally entitled to by law.

Thank you for your time in this matter and I look forward to speaking with you in matter reference to this.

Respectfully,

Donald Pavlak Jr.