In NJ we have what is called the NJ-ASK (NJ Assessment of Skills and Knowledge) testing system for our students. I just got the directive from the school, on the reverse of the notice it states:

"Test accomodations will be made for all Special Education and 504 students as indicated in their plan."

This tells me that these students are not expected to have the same knowledge as the others? Do they get extra time? Does this make sense?

What's a 504 student?

OK, now reading the accompanying booklet:

"Limited English Proficient students may be exempt fromt he NJ ASK Language Arts Literacy section..."

Wtheck, shouldn't it be even more important for these kids to get proficient?

And the above questions were answererd in the booklet, "they may take an "Alternate Minimum Proficiency Test based on their educational disability"...

504 students are physically disabled children, they simply get a larger type, special seating, etc.

And finally:

"Spanish-language tests for the 2010 Language Arts Literacy and Mathmatics for grades 6, 7, 8 are being offered"...

good grief.

¡piñata!

Now you begin to understand why charter schools, private schools, and home schooling are becoming more popular choices in this benighted state.

DQ - they have to do this, because if a certain percentage of students in a state/district fall below the national level, then the school system is downgraded and loses some funding. In order to maintain the level of waste they have attained, they have to make sure that they beat the federal percentage mandates. In every state that has instituted testing of this nature, parents and teachers complain that they are teaching to pass the test, rather than teaching.

"504" kids (of which my daughter is) are those that must have accommodations because of a legitimate disability. The accommodation could be as "simple" as you identified. They could also mean that someone would have to administer the test to my daughter while inpatient or could have to administer the test to her separately.

Section 504 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that prohibits discrimination based upon disability.

A guide to section 504: http://www.greatschools.org/LD/school-learning/section-504.gs?content=868

Hence, the etc... meaning they were not 'mentally challenged'

My son is a 504 student - he has dyslexia. He does have to have slight compensation for the standardized testing - he gets a little extra time to process the reading parts of the test.

Before he was diagnosed with dyslexia, I had no idea what a 504 student was.