AGC

What does the law say about the instruction and assessment of students with disabilities?They must report two elements: Identify the number of students with disabilities who took standardized tests and examine the performance scores of students with disabilities.In 1997 IDEA stated that an IEP must include: a statement of the child’s present levels of educational performance including how the child’s disability affects his or her involvement in the general curriculum. Measurable annual goals related to meeting the child’s needs. And descriptions of the child progress in the general curriculum. The law states that: Children with disabilities must be included in assessment programs with accommodations, as needed. States and local districts should develop guidelines for alternate assessments for students with disabilities who cannot participate in general assessments. Finally the performance of students with disabilities on assessments must be reported along with that of their peers.

AGC

Accessing General Curriculum

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Why is it important that students with disabilities have access to the general education curriculum? What are some ways to help these students to access the general education curriculum?

Steps

The general education curriculum is aligned to content standards and they should have access to them, all students need to learn even with disabilities. The curriculum is aligned with those standards to create a social equity. The state has already determined that the content is important to learn by all students, this includes students with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities can be taught using different techniques that are based on research, students with disabilities can learn and the expectations are that all students should learn the curriculum.

What are accommodations? Modifications? Alternate assessments? When should each of these be used?Accommodation is a service or support that helps a student to fully access the subject matter and instruction. For example a student with reading disability, the teacher must accommodate the student’s reading in all content areas that require reading. An accommodation is not a chance to content of instruction or performance expectation, an interference or major change to the standards, an altercation to the big idea or outcome learning expectation.A modification is a change to the instruction or curriculum for a student in which the content of the instruction or the performance expectations are altered. Carefully constructed modifications can help student with these skill deficits to progress in the general education curriculum at their own level. Examples of these types of modifications can include: reduce assignments, vary levels of reading material, design new material, and use lower level texts.Alternate Testing is for students with disabilities that cannot take part in state and district assessments must take alternate assessments and report the performance along with their non-disabled peers. Every student’s performance and progress should be accounted for, only students with more significant cognitive disabilities should take alternate assessments. Examples of alternate assessments are: student reading records, math samples, student projects or products, notes from parents, teachers, specialists, and classmates, etc.