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Are parents aware of the recent release of the Fordham study, "High Achievers in an era of NCLB?"
andyhanfmann June 20, 2008
Read how top performing students are making much smaller gains than the low performing students and teacher perceptions that the top performers are left to fend for
themselves. Then get up, get educated, and advocate for your child's development to potential and appropriate education!
healthy11 June 20, 2008
This topic has come up on other forums, where people acknowledge that the "bar" for minimal expected grade accomplishment is so low that some of our "brightest" students are being left behind. May I suggest that you also post this and the link to the study in Greatschool's Gifted Group at http://community.greatschools.net/groups/1153713615
andyhanfmann June 22, 2008
To tell you the truth, I don't know but you can google Thomas B. Fordham Foundation and read about them and the study is right there as well. While the study is available, so is an In a nutshell summary and a brief slide show. National Association for Gifted Children ahs posted a response and this report is getting national attention.13613
Snowflake June 22, 2008
Thanks, I did that and didn't see any connection. The sad part about NCLB is that I don't see children with difficulties achieving either. It seems to be about school politics and playing a numbers game. The research I have read shows no improvement, for example, for children in special ed , and services for dyslexia are still usually not provided, even though many of these children are extremely gifted, but excluded from gifted programs as well. I see the whole educational system as a nightmare.
When I say things like that to other parents they get all tied in a knot about it- as well as having my dyslexic, technologically brilliant kid show up in an advanced class (outside of school, of course) because it was determined to be his level. At this point I believe in charter schools and individualized education because it doesn't help any child to place them in a category with a ceiling on how far they an go or what they are allowed to learn based on standardized testing, which NCLB is about.
I know what is like to be one of those kids who spent the days looking out the window bored into depression and eventually went to a special school for those of us with unusually high test scores, where being around "high ability students" became the norm. But I also know that it is not the only, or even main measure of giftedness and the idea of a free and appropriate education seems to be eluding mostly everyone.13612
andyhanfmann June 22, 2008
Snowflake,
Please count me as someone who agrees that education under NCLB accountability systems is all about making numbers look good and this becomes more important than teaching children well. I follow
articles on data and its manipulation as it relates to
schools. Many parents feel loyal to their child's school
because their child does well. Doing well does not equate to learning when it comes to gifted students.
I am sorry your child is not receiving gifted service due to a l.d. In my state, Florida, he would be served as having both labels.
I think a free appropriate education is purposely evasive. Under NCLB, mediocrity is success, What an odd expectation to set for our country's future!
I join you in saying that which is not happily received by many ears...and I thank you for saying it.
13611
Abrazomom June 22, 2008
Unfortunately, when the instruction is aimed at the middle of the road, only 20% of the students progress well. Check out MetaMetrics.com, Lexile.com, and Quantiles.com. It has been proven that children need to read "targeted text" in order to progress in reading. Most of the textbooks used are not at student's targeted text level. You can get a reading list for your child from Lexile.com that targets not only their targeted text range but also their interests. The site also uses your computers location to search the nearest library to show you which of the selections are available there. It's really cool and IT'S FREE!!!! Schools need to start instructing each child with targeted text.13610
andyhanfmann June 22, 2008
Thank you, Abrazomom. The goal of moving to proficiency has actually set a target of only mediocrity for all. When curriculum is not appropriately matched to the learner, poor learning results. NCLB has turned
schools into one size fits all facilities. Just as all six year olds don't wear the same size shoe, run at the same speed, or play the piano with the same ease, NOR DO THEY learn at the same speed nor have the same learning profiles. With so much pressure to create good data as per NCLB accountability, getting to mediocre is the finish line and lets schools off the hook for moving past mediocre to excellence. What a tragic deprivation of promise to our nation's future.13609
healthy11 June 22, 2008
andyhanfmann, you mentioned that gifted/LD students would receive services in your state of FL under both labels...there's another FL poster, dhfl143, who has a gifted/LD child, and her child has been UNable to qualify for an IEP. She is very knowledgeable and active in advocacy areas. All I can guess is that your school district does things differently than hers. I hope she see this posting and comments.....13608
andyhanfmann June 22, 2008
healthy11,
Thanks for that info. I am also very active in advocacy and was in fact one of three parent advocates to serve on our first statewide Gifted Advisory Committee among state officials, professors, district coordinators, and advocacy heads. I have also been invited to speak to a House Committee in our state capitol. I will be happy to communicate with the mother you noted if you wish to make the connection.13607
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