I just returned from a meeting at my son's school where I was informed about changes in promotion and retention for grades K-5. My son is in 2nd grade and has a IEP. He has been labeled PDD-NOS.

The State of Florida has a test called the FCAT-SSS which has been taken by regular ed children. If they do not pass with a certain percentile, they will be retained. I was told that this year, these rules will be applied to students with disabilities.

My son is doing well in school and is capable of passing the test. However, because of his disability, he is more likely to have an "off day," not pass the test, and have to repeat his current grade.

It is ridiculous that a single test can determine if a child is promoted or retained.

The school personnel advised me of alternatives to the test, such as a second similar test. There are non-test alternatives, but the state has not yet determined what they are. I was told that this is unlikely to help in my son's situation.

My questions are:

1. Have you heard of this piece of legislation in Florida?

2. Is this legal, with respect to IDEA or other legislation for disabled children?

3. Why do we spend so much time on IEPs and teacher training to help kids with disabilities if one test can disrupt everything we are working toward?

4. Do you know of any special interest groups that are fighting this legislation?

5. What can I do to change this ridiculous legislation?

Any answers and ideas are most appreciated.

Sue Health answers these questions. What she learned may surprise you.

Myths & Facts

When I did some research on FCAT, I found this FCAT - Myths and Facts article.

I found that retention of 2nd graders is NOT a state requirement. Florida only requires retention for 4th and 10th grade students who do not pass the FCAT test. Any other retention plans are local.

You should read everything about this law on the Florida website. I am including several links at the end of this article.

Strategies

Print the documents, then meet again with the people who gave you the information about this being a state requirement. Have your documents handy to back up what you are saying. If there is still a difference of opinion, ask them to show you where you can find the information they are relying upon.

Remember that this law is new for everyone in Florida. A new law causes confusion, and makes it far more likely that school personnel are giving parents like you inaccurate information and advice. Make sure you verify the information you are getting.

You may find that your local school board is requiring this. It is possible that the educators at your child's school think this is state policy, and the school board does not have a policy about it at all. You need to find out.

If your school board has a retention policy, ask for a copy of the policy along with the minutes of the meeting when it was approved. Ask them about the research they used in formulating the grade retention policy.

If you find that your school board is requiring this, are they aware that there is absolutely no research to show that retention is appropriate for any group of students? If they are not, you need to bring this to their attention.

Provide your school board members with this position statement from the National Association of School Psychologists, Grade Retention - Achievement and Mental Health Outcomes.

Educating Others

When you find useful information, pass it on to other parents, teachers, administrators, legislators, and the media. As you collect information, put the links or mailing addresses for these resources into a Word document. In no time at all you will have enough information to make a flyer that is customized to the specific issues affecting children in your area.

Pass it on. Leave the flyer in libraries. Pass it out in the carpool line.

Send a flyer to all the parents you know and ask them to make 10 copies to send to 10 people they know. Ask them to make another pile of flyers to leave in their local libraries.

Pretty soon, everyone interested will have accurate information and the documents they need to back up their positions.

Council of Parents, Attorneys & Advocates

You asked about special interest groups who are fighting for children with disabilities.

Yes, there is a group called the Council of Parents, Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). COPAA is having their national conference in Orlando on March 13-16. You may want to attend this conference. Walk-ins are welcome.

You must be a COPAA member to attend the conference. To be a member, you must not be a school employee. If you decide to attend, you can bring the membership application with you to the conference.

The COPAA membership brochure is another thing you can pass out to every other parent in the same boat. The e-mail discussion list on COPAA is a good source of ideas and guidance.

I hope this helps.

Useful Links (Not available at this site)

Florida Department of Education website

FCAT section

Myths and Facts

Council of Parents Attorneys & Advocates

Retention & Social Promotion flyer

High-Stakes Testing flyer

Meet Sue Heath

Sue Heath of Hollis, New Hampshire, is the research editor for Wrightslaw.

In addition to writing about creative advocacy strategies in Doing Your Homework, Sue is co-author of Wrightslaw: No Child Left Behind (ISBN: 1-892320-12-6) that is published by Harbor House Law Press.

Sue is also webmaster for the New Hampshire Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and membership chair of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA).

© 2002-2004 by Suzanne Heath.