Modification Statements on Report Cards (Illinois)

I am not sure where it is documented but as a parent of a special ed child here in Illinois I was told you HAVE to make such a statement. As a matter of fact at least for grades 1-4 it is one of the printed codes on the bottom. For example my sons grades are reported in a numerical fashion with AC next to it.

I’m afraid it’s not illegal. After all, you’ve got all kinds of records on the kid’s files that say special ed. The report card is in the same “confidentiality” category as the sped information.

It is so funny how different states interpret things, but in NC, they have told us that you absolutley cannot put anything regarding special ed. on the report card. The report card records are usually kept in a cum folder which can be accessed by most any staff person in the school. The special ed. folder IS at a higher level of confidentiality. Only those directly involved in the child’s case and select personnel have access to a special ed. folder. That’s the rule where I am, anyway.

Janis

Now that you mention it, I *have* seen report cards with courses so very carefully named with special codes for special ed — which of course everybody knew, but whatever…

I wonder if the patterns are different at different grade levels?

In our state the teachers are reguired to teach and grade on grade level standards for all areas, as adopted legally by the state. Now, when a student is in special education for a particular subject area and is working below grade level, he or she can earn a good grade, based on progress with IEP goals. It is mandatory that the parents know that the “A” or “B” was earned on a modified standard, based on the IEP and not on grade level work.

I am in New Jersey and on my son’s report card since K there is apreprinted area the teachers check off if the class i s modified. My son is in fourth.

it will say

Modified _____ and it is checked off if it is indeed a sp ed class.

Lisa
NJ

I know that the parent has to be informed that the work is modified, but how do you handle the report card situation? Because report cards get sent home with the student and can be seen by so many people, professional or not, (even other students) how can we put a statement about modified curriculum on it and not commit a breach of confidentiality? For instance, Blockbuster has a program where if a child gets no D’s or F’s on his or her report card, he or she can get a free movie rental. The report card has to be brought in to redeem the free movie. Same with Pizza Hut- (I think that’s the restaurant- I might be wrong) there’s some deal where a kid can get free food or something. Anyway, if there’s something on the report card that states the child is in special ed or has special considerations, now the store clerk knows, and there goes the confidentiality. I realize that this is a pretty weak example, but these are the kinds of things that can happen. Sure, we can just tell the child he can’t bring his report card in to get his rewards, but who among us is ready to do that??? I’m not even getting into the “The child could be stigmatized” area. That’s really not my point, even though that IS another consideration. It just appears to me that a Special Education student’s right to privacy can be very easily taken away with the inclusion of “modified” statements on a report card. My solution is to include a narrative along with the report card and updated IEP goals that describes in detail any modifications made that contributed to the report card grades. Am I completely off base here?

I don’t think you’re off base at all, and you’ve got a good argument. Those aren’t even weak examples (especially if you’re a kiddo who likes pizza ;))

Ann,

Your idea is exactly what my state requires. We must send an IEP progress report home every time a report card or regular class progress report goes home. That way, you can put the confidential information about the child’s actual functioning and it does not betray confidentiality like it would on the report card.

Janis

My son has been sp.ed in two districts, VA and DODDS, his report cards don’t say anything about sp.ed. He gets a separate report based on his iep. The only thing other than the iep progress report that marks accommodations is his standardized tests. Also, his reports come in a big yellow envelope that either I pick up personally or is mailed to me. But I agree that if it is marked on the report card, it is hard to keep confidentiality when you take it for those grade reward programs. I think earned grades should be just that, and iep progress should be reported separate.

My son report card states in * ,marked aresa are based on IEP goals and objectives and that all his writing work is modified.he also gets a report on his IEP goals from his sp. ed teacher.