Statewide Examinations

This is the first year that Gus has to take state exams.  I’m curious to see how he does on them.

At present, it doesn’t much matter if he passes or fails these exams because as an IEP student, they don’t really count in his final grade or whether he continues to the next grade.  (They’re not supposed to be used as the final determinant for promotion for any child.)  However, his ability to take and pass the state exams may directly affect whether or not he can continue his education if he wants to.

It seems that the state education department is restructuring their requirements for high school graduation because the IEP diploma that disabled students were awarded, if they could not meet the Regents or general Local requirements, are not accepted by many universities or community colleges.  However, it is still unclear what the alternative requirements are going to look like.  And the requirements next year might be very different still from the requirement 5 or 6 years from now.

I have no doubt that if Gus can focus long enough on any exam, he can pass it with flying colors, but that’s a big IF on any given day.  If he has a bad day and can’t get through the tests, even with the accommodations, the image of his academic ability will be grossly flawed.  Yet there’s the very strong chance that he might be a good test-taker.  He was pretty excited and motivated about doing well, so that may be all the boost he needs to stay focused.  We’ll find out when the results come back.

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