ALERT: LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST CALIFORNIA OVER HIGH STAKES TEST
Lawsuit Alleges State Exit Exam Discriminates
OAKLAND, California. May 8, 2001/Mercury News.
“In unprecedented action that could eventually affect hundreds of
thousands of disabled students statewide, Disability Rights Advocates
filed a lawsuit Tuesday against California’s Department of Education,
challenging its high school exit exam, which they say discriminates
against those with learning disabilities.”
“The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, charges that the exam
discriminates because it provides no alternate assessment, no procedure
for requesting accommodations and no process for appeals.
The suit claims the exam tests disabled students on material that they
have never been taught. As a result, the lawsuit says, the department has
“created chaos and confusion.” The lawsuit seeks corrective action to
remedy these alleged flaws in the system …”
“In addition to the state Department of Education and Superintendent
Delaine Eastin, the suit, specifically, names Fremont Unified School
District and its superintendent, Sharon Jones. One of the three student
plaintiffs, 13-year-old Juleus Chapman, attends Fremont’s Hopkins Junior
High School.”
“The suit was also filed on behalf of the Learning Disabilities
Association of California.”
For more information about this important case about “high stakes
testing,” go to:
http://www.wrightslaw.com/news/2001/CA_highstakes.htm
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I am a middle school teacher who works with students diagnosed with learning disabilities in a PA public school. I am not totally up to date about what is going on in CA but my kids at school just completed the Standford Achievement Tests and it was a horrible experience for them The kids were required to test at grade level and what a waste of time. 100% of them cooperated but 98% of them guessed. How do they think a child who needs to work on grade level with the implementation of specially designed instruction can be successful in a test situation with limited accomodations? It’s as ridiculous as asking a visually impaired individual to read without a magnifying glass or enlarged text. It angers me that people in positions of influence don’t put the kids first. I thanked my students for their cooperation and hope the laws re testing will be changed soon. mary