Critics: California Districts Taking Advantage Of Special Needs Modified Assessment

The Sacramento Bee (10/3, Reese) reports that "critics" are charging that California districts are taking inappropriate advantage of a "loophole" related to "a new test for special education students called the California Modified Assessment," which is "a simpler version of the state's regular STAR student achievement test. It's tailored to special education students in grades three through 11 whom teachers and parents deem to have no chance at passing the regular test." The article continues to explore NCLB mandates regarding the percentage of students who should be given modified standardized tests, the views of special education stakeholders on whether such tests can be useful in gauging student progress, and the number of students that different districts in the state give the modified test. The piece notes that Education Secretary Arne Duncan has said that "tests like the CMA were regularly abused, and he vowed to 'move away' from them."