Very confused about criteria for mastery...

[trek]

My older son Grant is HFA and has other disabilities that impact him in the classroom. He is a rising 7th grader in inclusive setting. Most past years(since he was 3) he has met his goals, but the criteria was too low I realize now. Anyway, after hiring a paid advocate who helped get the county to LISTEN a bit more, it appears as though my son is not meeting most of his goals. Yet they have it listed as "making sufficient progress to meet goal" under 4th (last) quarter.
1) For example for math goal
- Grant will improve his math skills by performing operations with fractions with like denominators
a.addition
b.subtraction
c.multiplication
d. division
Criteria for mastery 80% yet for 4th quarter it is only 66% for add/subtract; 75% multiplication
Method of evaluation informal assessments and data collection
n/a 1st quarter, 46-56% 2nd quarter, 25-76% depending on operation 3rd quarter.

So if someone attains close to the criteria than it is considered "making sufficient progress"? This matters as the advocate keeps saying we need documentation to make case for ESY for math during school year. The county said they were providing appropriate support. Grant had math study skills, math connections and co-taught math in 6th still failed math, and will have same set-up for 7th.

The math goals for 7th have the word independently added- something Grant struggles with-tonight he could not figure out what the difference between 2 numbers meant when I TOLD him what he needed to figure out a math problem.

[Brice]

IEP & Progress in the General Education Curriculum

There are two laws that talk about standards and achievement.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)

Note: Georgia, I believe, has a waiver for NCLB. However, if it does, the demand for high standards and achievement are still expected by the U.S. Department of Education.

The NCLB statement of purpose says:


Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The Congressional statement of purpose for the IDEA is:

The IDEA says the IEP must be based on "the child's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance." The IEP must include "a
statement of measurable annual goals, including academic and functional goals, designed to meet the child's needs that result from the child's disability to enable the child to be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum ..." [Emphasis added]

Also, the IDEA tells us a child's IEP must include "a statement of any individual appropriate accommodations that are necessary to measure the academic achievement and functional performance of the child on State and districtwide assessments ..." 20 U.S.C. 1414(d) [Emphasis added]


Georgia: 160-4-7-.O1 PURPOSE FOR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS RULES


(1) PURPOSE. These rules are designed to :

(a) Ensure that all eligible children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education (FAPE) that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living ensure the effectiveness of efforts to educate children with disabilitiesWhat is suffiecient progress?https://www.georgiastandards.org/sta...-Standards.pdf

https://www.georgiastandards.org/Sta...Standards.aspxYou also asked

[trek]

Thanks. Yes, live in GA. Our state does indeed have a waiver for NCLB.
I'm aware of the standards, in math my son has struggled to meet most of the math standards over the years. If you are talking benchmark testing that they do quarterly than my son did pass any of the testing since 3rd grade in math. They did want to retain him last year as is required by our county's framework since he failed math and failed to pass the math CRCT (this was in 5th). As a team and as suggested by the advocate we use who is not a fan of retention, we placed him yet again in another grade. My son Grant has ONLY been promoted to next grade level 2x since kindergarten if that helps.

At his annual meeting, I did ask about more math support, but the county stated that he was receiving appropriate support. We do tape meetings. I am still preplexed by having annual goals and not receiving progress for 4th quarter that clearly states NOT MET which I assume should be put down if it was the last opportunity to meet the math goals. Sure, he came close in a few areas, but 66% is not 80% or am I still not understanding? They sure are fast to close goals that are met, but am I not correct in asking for something besides "making sufficient progress" for final update on a goal at end of the year?

Maybe I am way off the mark, and am making mountains out of molehills?

Thanks for your time yet again.

[Brice]

Making sufficient progressGuidelines for Choosing an Advocate at http://www.copaa.org/membership/pare...tion-advocate/

You will also find a Guidelines for Choosing an Attorney at http://www.copaa.org/membership/pare...g-an-attorney/

For full disclosure I have to say that I served on the COPAA board of directors and the committee that wrote these guidelines.

You asked if you are off the mark and making mountains out of molehills.There is a real trick to it.

a) [Date on the document] [name of document such as Letter to Old Overshore School district dated], and page number where the proof is.

b) Issue: [write what the issue is]

c) quote the text in your log.

d) write a short description about what you believe this document proves.

The talking points list is just short descriptions of the major points you want to make at the meeting. Take the talking points and your evidence log with you to the meeting. You will have everything at your fingertips so you can be in control.

Dont' be surprised if the LEA tries to find ways to shut down the meeting prematurely. If that happens, you will

[trek]

Again, thank you for taking the time to reply. I should see the changes regarding progress on my son's goals for this past school year. The county has agreed to state that Grant did not meet the math goals.

I plant to utilize your suggestions to put together a "case" for why it will be appropriate to provide ESY in math for Grant this school year. I'm still waiting for data for the math modified CRCT - not just score. I know from my experience that graphs/data really send the county into a tizzy. During IEP meeting in 5th grade I presented a graph that really angered them. But, numbers don't lie! So, will have to go down that path again.

Thanks so much. I hope by end of September to hold a meeting-want to give Grant at least 4-5 weeks of math in 7th and school resumes July 30th.