IGBB 346 part 1
NON-DISCRIMINATORY TESTING POLICY
FOR
EXCEPTIONAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS STUDENTS,
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES, AND
LIMITED-ENGLISH SPEAKING STUDENTS
Students with Exceptional Educational needs (EEN) or Disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
In accordance with PI 16.07, Wis. Admin. Code. the Independence School District assures the following in regards to standardized testing:
1.Test results may not be used as the sole criterion in exiting students from a special
education program or in determining grade promotion, eligibility for graduation,
or eligibility for participation in post-secondary options.
2.Students who are exempted from the test may not be penalized in grade
promotion, eligibility for courses or programs, eligibility for graduation, or
eligibility for post-secondary options.
3.The IEP should include a statement that a student will or will not participate in the
state and district testing programs, the subject or content areas that are appropriate
for the student, any modifications in the testing procedure that need to be made,
and a justification for the decision. The special education staff shall explain this
decision to parents and be able to document parent understanding.
4.During the IEP process, test decisions and modifications to test procedures for all
school and district testing should be discussed. The student should have consistent treatment in testing. That is, all school or district achievement or other testing should be administered to the student in the same way.
5.The decision to include or exclude any student with EEN or disabilities shall be
made on an individual, case-by-case basis. No “blanket” inclusion or exclusion of
students with EEN or disabilities or categories of EEN is allowable. However,
certain considerations make the decision more or less reasonable. These
considerations shall be documented on an existing EEN form and affixed to the
student’s IEP. Considerations shall be reviewed on an annual basis, but may be
reviewed sooner if the individual student, parent or teacher deems this review
necessary.
6.No modification may be made to the content of the test itself, but there are
modifications that can be made to the procedures for administering the test. The
modifications that are allowable do not change the test but allow the EEN or other
disabled student to show their true ability in spite of their handicap. Allowable
modifications are listed on the EEN testing and modifications form.
7.When modifications to testing are made, the non-standard administration
procedures shall be borne in mind when interpreting the test results.
Limited English Speaking Students (LES)
In accordance with PI 16.01, Wis. Admin. Code, the district assures the following in regards to standardized testing:
Policy IGBB 346 part 1 (p2)
1.The district shall exempt LES students who are determined to be in the categories
(a) through (c) under s. PI 13.03.
2.The district may test LES students in categories (d) or (e) under s. PI 13.03 or
LES students who recently exited a bilingual-bicultural program.
3.In making the decision to include or exclude LES students in categories (d) or (e)
or who recently exited a program, the district shall consider whether the student
has had an opportunity to learn the material that the test covers and whether the
student has test-taking skills. A teacher of LES students must be involved in
deciding whether the student has adequate academic and English proficiency to
take the test.
4.The district shall make allowable modifications in the format and administration
of the test if needed by the LES student.
5.Modifications must maintain test validity. The district shall not read any of the
reading passages or item to students as this does compromise the validity of the
reading score.
6.The district may administer part of the test to LES students and exempt them
taking tests deemed to be inappropriate. LES students may be exempted from the
academic tests and take only the Career Interest Inventory. When modifications
to testing are made, the non-standard administration procedures shall be borne in
mind when interpreting the test results,
7.If the district exempts a LES student from the test, they must still assess a
student’s achievement in the core subject of reading, writing, and math.
8.LES students must be provided career development experience and be assisted in
making post-secondary education decisions.
9.Test results may not be used as the sole criterion in exiting students from a
bilingual-bicultural program or in determining grade promotion, eligibility for
courses or programs, eligibility for graduation, or eligibility for participation in
post-secondary options.
10.Students who are exempted from the test may not be penalized in grade
promotion, eligibility for courses or programs, eligibility for graduation, or
eligibility for post-secondary options.
11.Parents of LES students must be notified at least 30 days before testing of the
district’s decision to include or exclude the student and the reason for the decision.
12.Test results for students included in testing must be provided to parents in their
native language, or any other means necessary so that parents understand their
child’s test results.
First reading September 26, 1994
Approved October 24,1994 and reviewed annually through Feb 1, 2012