Need some help with NCLB issues

[azurnoir]

My daughter was supposed to graduate high school last spring, she did not despite having a B average and all necessary credits because she did not pass the math BST. She went to an after school program over the winter last year and to Metro state collage this summer. What is somewhat curios is that she has failed each time she takes the test by within 1 or 2 points of the same number of points. I have spoken with the state dept. of education on this and how these tests are scored, the answer I got was a long winded obfuscations that could be interpreted as the scoring is arbitrary. Also I have questions as to what her status is right now, I have been very curtly told that she "has been dropped from the system" so just what does this mean for her? I have talked with people both at the state and local level and have been stonewalled and told completely conflicting things at every turn. Any help or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
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[MissB]

1. I have no idea, but I'd start with the

superintendent of the school district that your daughter is in. I'd make an appointment, bring her info and talk to the person. Alternatively, you could address a registered letter to both the high school principal and the superintendent and the state's education secretary. Give them a deadline for responding.

Follow it up with a call to your state representative.

[Sancho]

2. Welcome to high stakes testing....

Depending on the state, you can demand the actual items or concepts or test that your child took. That would help prepare. You need to know how many times she can take the test and what the time line is...and the central office of the superintendent is a good start.

There may be a parent group already organized over testing in your state (Fairtest is a good national organization), and you may have some help or advice that would help.

Local and state laws and out-of-control school districts are common, and they are often so different that simple legal advice is tough to provide. Sometimes, states have cut scores that actually change from time to time, so that you're aiming at a moving target. If you study something and learn it, then the test you take is a differerent version.

Tests have to be demonstrated valid, reliable, and fair. Validity and fairness are hard to obtain, and someone's opinion that the test is good is not enough. You can demand evidence of validity and fairness. Save anything they give you or take notes, because the administrators often reveal that they don't actually know or teach what is on the test, so they are "proving" the test lacks validity up front....GOOD luck.

[Pugee]

3. Also,

Most schools post somewhere online or on campus just how many people in your daughter's school pass these tests. If not, they should be able to tell you. If lots of kids are not passing, that gives you more info and ammo.

If you get too much run around, write/call the government agency that oversees schools in your state. For instance, in Missouri, it is DESE, the Department of elementary and Secondary Education. They look into complaints and can be very helpful with statistics, alternatives.

I don't know if you or the school had to pay to take this, but tests are VERY BIG business to the companies that give them. In other words, not always indicative of anything other than how well one takes tests.

[azurnoir]

6. I did contact the Minnesota state department of education

they were first in line to stonewall and obfuscate. The high school was no better, even with the question as to her status now.

[donco6]

7. So she hasn't received a diploma?

If not, the high school is obligated to provide an education through age 21.

[azurnoir]

8. Here's the problem

she has taken several courses designed to pass this test, she has passed the reading and writing parts it is just the math. What I have found out this evening from her is that she knows several kids that are in the same boat honor roll students with all credits necessary to graduate but can't pass the math part of this test, what is even weirder is they fail with almost the exact same score each time they take the test. I have spoken with a couple of the parents and they are as perplexed as I am, all of us have asked the state about how this test is scored and have gotten various and sometimes almost nonsensical answers, it is end of rope time, she wants to take a GED but she has already accomplished what should be expected of her and truly should not have to do this.

[mdmc]

4. She has until 21 to finish up

send her back to HS...the district will graduate her fast enough once they are tasked with her education for another year.

[azurnoir]

5. Thank everyone much

What I have found out in the past hour is that this is a bit of a trend, my daughter put me in touch with several of her friend's and their parents, what I described including the hinky test scores, they fail by the same number of points each time they take the test, despite evening courses ans tutoring has happened to several kids that she knows personally , maybe we're on to something here.