The amount of time that the alternate assessment for severely disabled students takes away from teaching has been an issue since the test came out, although this year’s changes were the most ridiculous to date [see “Special ed teachers frustrated by changes to alternate assessment,” Jan. 16 issue]. Many of our students at the lower cognition ranges should be medically exempt from the NYSAA assessment, something as simple as the state allowing parents to opt out of that type of assessment on the IEP.

NYSAA eats up one-third of the school year, and in 85 percent of the cases, the “grade-level skills” being assessed are nowhere near appropriate for the student’s IEP goals. What should be allowed in its place would be the sequenced photographs or video options of students performing on their own IEP goals.

The whole point of an IEP is the I for individual, yet the NYSAA requires every student to focus on one of three options with five sets of requirements in two subject areas, ELA and math, with the promise (threat?) that science and social studies are on the way.

Rob Roszkowski, P 993, Queens
(via Facebook)