How Does NCLB Affect My Child’s School?

Annual testing

The first and most obvious consequence of NCLB is mandatory annual testing. This testing is required beyond or in place of the annual testing most school systems already conduct to measure student achievement in basic skills or to determine eligibility for high school graduation. States can develop their own tests, but the law requires states to use the same measures and standards for students in general education, students with disabilities, students with limited English proficiency, students from each major racial/ethnic group, and students from families who meet low-income criteria. Only a very small (1%) of all students can be excluded from state testing on the basis of severe disabilities.

Starting this school year (2004-05), NCLB requires annual state tests in reading and math for every child in grades three through eight and adds science tests in the 2005-2006 school year. Some school districts will administer state tests to students in other grades and in other subjects, as well. You can expect information from you child’s school about the scheduling of tests, typically given in late winter or early spring.

What are the tests like? Each state designs its own tests, but because hundred and thousands of students are tested, the tests must be designed for easy scoring and reporting the results—thus tests typically are designed to be given to students in groups (such as the whole class), with instructions read aloud to younger children and to be read independently by older children. Usually students respond to test questions by filling in an answer sheet or writing short answers on paper. And usually such tests have time limits—e.g., all students must start and finish their test at the same time and may have a certain number of minutes to complete each part of the test.

Students who receive special education services (they have an IEP) or who have some type of disability accommodation through a Section 504 plan may qualify for certain adaptations of state testing, such as taking a test without time limits or in a quiet work area. If your child has a disability, even if not already receiving special education services, it is wise to consult school personnel to find out if your child needs any accommodations for taking state tests.

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