STAAR State Bench March Testing

In Texas, she may be absent on test day but there will be a make up day.

I have been sub teaching at the same school over 10 yrs. I sub on testing days because they pull so many staff members to help with testing.

Many children are tested 1 on 1, small groups, etc. Plus they are given unlimited time to complete the testing. I've seen the 1 on 1's and groups take breaks, walk around, snack and then go back.

They do take the testing very seriously and they do everything within their power to help students NOT stress out about the tests.

Before you opt for a planned missed day at school, find out when the make up day will be.

Good luck.

I work in a middle school in Texas. There are a number of modifications and accommodations that are allowed with the testing, including having the questions and all answers read to them, and extended time. I've read many tests to students in the years I've worked in middle schools......

As someone else pointed out, the school WANTS your child to pass.... they will work with you to figure out the best accommodations for your child.

I assume she has an IEP or 504 plan? Talk to her case manager (IEP) or the counselor (504 plan) to see what can be done. I really don't recommend having her "sick" on those days... she does need to get used to the idea of taking the tests, and it is better to start at this point, rather than later.

Be sure she feels comfortable asking for a phrase or question to be read again..... she can ask them to repeat questions or what is needed. She needs to start getting used to this now, and asking for what she needs. The person reading the test to her can't read her mind! She may have to get used to different people reading tests.... she won't have the same one reading to her each time.....

Be sure your concerns and worries aren't being passed on to her...... she may start to feel your anxiety and become even more stressed on testing days.

Yes, I hate the pressure they put on these kids, especially at such a young age.

For Texas opting out is not really an option. They will just have her make up the test the next time she is at school. So unless you will have her continuously miss then you can't opt out. The STAAR is used as the test to advance to the next grade so she really need to take the test. If your daughter's dyslexia is documented by a doctor and she is receiving help from the school she may be able to have a test reader/helper during the testing. Essentially they will read the questions to her, allow her extra time for the test, and give help when needed. I have a friend with severe dyslexia and they did this with her for every test. She will have to take the test at the same time as everyone else but she will be allowed to take the test away from the other kids and the helper will be able to talk to her and read to her instead of her doing all the work. I really think that instead of just having her miss the test you should contact the school and see what your options are. If she is a severe as it seems then she is already getting help from the school and they may already have something in place.

You child has an IEP, no doubt. Is there any way that someone can read the questions to her? If she doesn't have a problem with receptive language, it would make it very easy for her.

She's going to have to take tests for a long time to come. Try to advocate for her to have someone administer the test in such a way as to make it so that she CAN be successful.

Good luck,
Dawn

I have a 14 yr old in the 8th grade in Texas. She was diagnosed with dyslexia in the 2nd grade and completed the dyslexia program by the beginning of 4th grade, her dyslexia isn't as crippling as other kids, but is still a disability she must work to overcome.

That being said, she has taken TAKS since 3rd grade and took reading, writing and math STAAR last year in the 7th grade. She has always performed above average on the state tests, but fell below commended levels in reading on TAKS. Imagine our shock and pride when we received her STAAR results (just last week, don't know why it took our district almost a year!) She received a commended score on reading!!! She scored very high, but not commended on writing as well. Math...eehhh, that's where we need to work now :)

Your daughter needs to learn to manage herself on the testing days. She will have a couple of years to get used to it before it really "counts" in the 5th grade and the experience will be so important to her. The only accommodation we've ever requested for our daughter was on the science test. So many scientific terms are spelled almost identically and can be easily switched out for one another, even if you don't have dyslexia! And, you guessed it, she was commended on her 5th grade science TAKS. This year she will take science, social studies, reading and math and the district will provide an IPOD for her to listen to the test being read aloud. Again, we are only asking for this accommodation in science and I had to confirm with the campus 504 coordinator to be sure all the paperwork was in place well in advance of the test date. Asking for help is nothing to be embarrassed about, she knows the material we just don't want some dang flip-flopping letters to wreck her score.

Good luck! With a lot of work and time, your daughter will overcome this and perform well and maybe even learn to enjoy reading!

Mom, you are completely freaking out. Your child will do as well as she can and that is what the Teachers need and you need. This is how she will be able to continue her learning.

Opt out is a cop out.

Your child needs the experience of taking tests, because for the rest of her life she will be tested. This is just another experience.

The secret is for everyone around her to calm down, have a positive attitude. Assure her as long as she is doing her best, you are all going to be happy with any results.

You are ALL on her team. You are working as partners. I promise you, everyone wants her to succeed. even If that means it goes slower than everyone else wants.. That is not the point. It her HER ability, her enthusiasm, and her own work.

Accept your daughter as she is. She is doing her best and isn't that what we all strive for?

I'm not a fan if opting out of testing because IMO it teaches children that its ok to quit. My son struggles in school as well and he was offered a scribe to help with testing and we turned it down. As did he. He knows he has to work harder then other kids. What's going to happen in college when she doesn't want to take an exam because it will be to hard? Oh and for the record I have dyslexia and adhd. I had honors classes all throughout school and graduated with a 4.0 gpa.

Why opt out?
It's just a measure of how far she's come.
As far as I know nothing bad happens if she fails it and if she's worked so hard she might do better than you think she will.
Throughout her life she'll be taking tests and assessments.
She might as well (and you might as well) get use to it.

My son auditions for participation in playing in various bands.
Sometimes he makes the cut and sometimes he doesn't.
His band instructor praises everyone who tries no matter who makes it in.
Because you learn so much just for the trying.
It's like that all through life.
Showing up is half the battle.

Another example:
My son takes taekwondo and has risen to 2nd Don level.
(He's testing for 3rd Don level in a few weeks.)
For one of his levels he's had to spar against 4 people at the same time for I think it's like 10 minutes.
It's a grueling test.
It's common for people to be in tears by the time it's over.
But you have to pass it in order to rise.
Every once in awhile a mother will come in and pull her child out before it's finished.
If that happens, the child does not rise in level - and if they want to move forward they have to go through all this again.
Fear builds up and some can't get over it - it builds a barrier that makes it twice as hard to get around.
It's better to get it over with and behind you.
And when it's over - everyone congratulates you - the coaches, the Masters, your sparring partners, your parents - EVERYONE!
And the kids feel better that they have risen to the challenge and got through it.
It is a source of pride for them.

Have her show up to school on the testing date and get it over with.
Then she/you can relax and look forward to a nice spring break in a few weeks time.

I don't know what the rules are in Texas, but here in California, I believe kids with learning disabilities are able to take as much time as they need to complete the tests, as well as their aides can assist with items such as reading the questions to the child, repeating the questions as necessary, etc. I have a friend whose son qualifies for this. He did quite well on the testing, but they spread it out over a longer time period, and he was able to take the test in a room separate from the other kids (with his aide there).

I really hate that they suggest that kids with learning disabilities should be absent for the tests. I think as a parent, you have a right to know how your child is doing versus her peer group, and versus herself year-over-year. I don't think there needs to be a lot of pressure on her, but rather just let her know that this is a way that you and she will know how she's doing, and what she needs to work on. I think having her just be absent for the testing days would send the wrong message to her, maybe. She's perfectly capable, but just needs a little extra time and help, that's all.

If you feel that strongly about it, call an emergency ARD meeting. By law, they have 3 days to schedule it after you request it in writing.

My son has an IEP in place where he tests in a separate room one on one with a teacher. He passed the STARR last year, but come to find out they didn't "count" the results because there were so many problems with the test. He also does a "Modified" version of the tests -- I assume there's not as many questions or they're not as difficult? Don't know, just know that he passed.

Also, the school WANTS your child to pass these tests. Their raises depend on it, as well as the schools ranking. I would think they would do whatever it takes to help your daughter be successful.

I also know that my child's school hates these standardized state tests. Several districts in Texas (as well as ours) have filed a lawsuit to have the tests abolished.

Start making noise at school. Bring your documentation and any doctor's evals and recommendations you have. You can always use the magic words that make school officials take you seriously -- "Special Education Advocate" or "Lawyer".

I do not believe there are any consequences to her of opting out. There is beginning to be a nationwide movement to opt out of high stakes testing. After all it doesn't benefit the students in any way and takes a HUGE amount of time that would be much better spent teaching and learning.
These may be places to start
mhttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Texas-Parents-Opt-Out-of-St...

http://www.fairtest.org/get-involved/opting-out

My son is in first grade, gifted, loves quizzes (makes them up to give to his stuffed animals and takes every quiz at the end of any non fiction book we read) and we are considering opting him out of the standardized tests. Happily we have several years before we need to decide. I think once more teachers and students start opting out the system will change. And it certainly does need to change.