D
DRoss
Guest
As of the school year 2001-2002, North Carolina requires an end-of-grade exam for grades three and higher. My daughter is diagnosed with several learning disabilities and has an IEP. There are several accommodations on her IEP, all except one of which are acceptable for the end of grade exam. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction explicitly prohibits one accommodation: having someone read the test aloud for the reading portion. I realize this sounds silly, but NC is overlooking the fact that reading is made up of decoding and comprehension. The test as it now stands measures only my child's decoding problems and not her comprehension. In other words, it tests her disability. No other accommodation exists to allow my child to show what she has learned and what she can comprehend, and the state will fail her at year's end.
I already know this violates IDEA, Section 504 (testing accommodations) and probably Title II and maybe due process. What I don't know is how to proceed - I'm sure there are other folks like me who need help fighting this. I've contacted the ACLU and am in the process of filing a complaint with the US Dept. of Education, Office for Civil Rights, which can cut funding for institutions in violation of law. Any other suggestions? I'd love to find a lawyer who would take our case pro bono or on contingency.
I already know this violates IDEA, Section 504 (testing accommodations) and probably Title II and maybe due process. What I don't know is how to proceed - I'm sure there are other folks like me who need help fighting this. I've contacted the ACLU and am in the process of filing a complaint with the US Dept. of Education, Office for Civil Rights, which can cut funding for institutions in violation of law. Any other suggestions? I'd love to find a lawyer who would take our case pro bono or on contingency.