No Child Left Behind?

Special Education students are required to take the same test as the students in the general education classroom.  In a school with 50 or more special education students, the scores must be counted towards the Adequate Yearly Progress Report (AYP).  According to Indiana University, many states are not passing the AYP because of the special needs subgroup (Out of Step).  Intellectually, these students are not able to meet up to the standards of the general classroom, which is why they are not in those classes to begin with.  Because they must meet the test requirements, these students feel extra, unnecessary stress to pass.  According to the U.S. Department of Education, the scores would be considered "not proficient" if they were not graded based on the student's grade level (Students with Disabilities).  This makes no sense.  If the student was able to function at his or her own grade level, then they would be put into the general classroom, not in a special needs program. 

According to Indiana University, the assessment criteria creates pressure on the schools to use reverse inclination efforts, which may lead to higher drop-our rates to disabled students (Out of Step.)  These students are the ones that need to stay in school the most in order to reach their full potential.  If these students are dropping out because of these tests, then is NCLB really doing their part to help EVERY student?  It is called No Child Left Behind, not Special Needs Students Left Behind.