Standardized testing for 3yo - wwyd?

[K&Rs Mom]

My 3yo has recently started speech therapy through the public schools. The lady who does the therapy is great, she goes to our church & I know her family, and R gets along with her really well and looks forward to her speech appointments. Yesterday, she told me there's a new standardized test (this is the first year) for 3-5yo - gross motor, fine motor, language, etc.. This is mandated by the state to track progress and, I assume, evaluate the staff's effectiveness. I don't want my 3yo tracked by the state! I don't know when I became such a paranoid wierdo, but there it is. I did ask her to look into some way to exempt us from this, but since it's a new test she has to check with her supervisor and I'm guessing exemption won't happen. This really is a dealbreaker for us (I know, paranoid wierdo ;) ).

R really does have some speech issues - her receptive language is great, vocabulary is huge, but even I can't understand half of what she says. So far the exercises haven't been anything so spectacular, I could probably work with her myself, but I wouldn't have thought them up on my own. I wish I could get this lady to do a private tutoring, outside of the school system, but since we were referred to her by the schools that would be somewhat unethical, right? I don't know of any private therapy options around here, and don't know how to find them.

Has anyone btdt? I have gotten all sorts of 'special education' paperwork already, with legal info here & there, but none of it really seems to apply (Michigan, if it matters). Any advice?

Thanks!

[GothicGyrl]

OK, no you aren't a "paranoid weirdo" because testing a 3 yr old is just down right wrong. My pocketbook might have to take the crunch, but I'd have him out of that so fast and into a real professionals office.

Or I'd offer this lady "private pay" in your home, without all the buearucratic BS...

[Pam "SFSOM" in TN]

My 3yo has recently started speech therapy through the public schools. The lady who does the therapy is great, she goes to our church & I know her family, and R gets along with her really well and looks forward to her speech appointments. Yesterday, she told me there's a new standardized test (this is the first year) for 3-5yo - gross motor, fine motor, language, etc.. This is mandated by the state to track progress and, I assume, evaluate the staff's effectiveness. I don't want my 3yo tracked by the state! I don't know when I became such a paranoid wierdo, but there it is. I did ask her to look into some way to exempt us from this, but since it's a new test she has to check with her supervisor and I'm guessing exemption won't happen. This really is a dealbreaker for us (I know, paranoid wierdo ;) ).

R really does have some speech issues - her receptive language is great, vocabulary is huge, but even I can't understand half of what she says. So far the exercises haven't been anything so spectacular, I could probably work with her myself, but I wouldn't have thought them up on my own. I wish I could get this lady to do a private tutoring, outside of the school system, but since we were referred to her by the schools that would be somewhat unethical, right? I don't know of any private therapy options around here, and don't know how to find them.

Has anyone btdt? I have gotten all sorts of 'special education' paperwork already, with legal info here & there, but none of it really seems to apply (Michigan, if it matters). Any advice?

Thanks!

From a mom who begged and begged and begged for tests and didn't get them and now gets to pay for them out of pocket for a kid who is now 15 and has a referral (And the angels sang hallelujah!), I'd not only do the testing but would be there early and then send a thank-you note afterward.

I'd assume my child would have pretesting and post-testing and progress testing no matter what therapy they were getting. If they are getting testing paid for by the state, then I'd assume they were getting state testing.

Pure and simple, instead of running the other way, I'd be falling all over myself with gratitude about this. Really.

[j.griff]

I don't see how it would be unethical to offer to pay her for private tutoring instead of going through the system. You could also ask her if she knows about any other private services.

[Sue G in PA]

It's not for HER benefit...it's for the state's and the school's and the teacher's to assess how THEY are doing! Same w/ all standardized tests. People argue against Classical Education b/c it's like putting all children in the same "mold" regardless of their learning styles, etc. Isn't this the same? One test for ALL students and then what? I abhor standardized tests not b/c I'm afraid my dc won't do well. I'm with you...I simply don't need the gov't telling me how to education my kids, what curriculum to use, what to teach and when. If my dc don't learn American History in 4th grade like they do in ps, I doubt they will be scarred for life. I'd pull her from the public school speech therapy and go private (if you can afford to) to avoid this if you feel strongly about it.

[Jan in SC]

I'm not sure if it would be exactly the same thing, but my child went through this process for speech when he was 3. Our public system checks OT, PT,various other minor issues, (they should give you the exact details) and some basic cognitive abilities. It was completely painless, ie- catching beanbags, pointing out sequencing with pictures.) He had a fun time. It took 45 minutes-ish.

It is a series of steps they take to ensure children that need extra services don't miss out. If you don't like the plan, I'm sure your pediatrician could recommend a private speech therapist. By standardized test, yes it is a one test fits all. However, it helped me know where my child was functioning age wise rather than in relation to other children within the program. Ours did not report back in percentage or comparisions in the typical testing way.

I found it to be a wealth of information and he was able to do things I had no idea he could do!

Good luck!

[PixieKris]

I think I would assume they are not doing developmentally inappropriate Standardized testing, but rather a "test" that looks for developmental milestones, and gives the professionals a way to track their work? Like any "test" we have to be careful of how we intrepret and use that information...

Just my .02... :) Kris

[Claire]

My dd was tested at 5yo in the statewide pre-kindergarten screening. Homeschoolers could be exempted from it at their request, but I thought the screening would be a good idea. The testing showed very severe articulation delays (1st percentile for her age). Dh and I had no idea her articulation was that bad, as we had become accustomed to it and could understand her just fine. The screening tested other areas as well, including vision and gross/fine motor, but articulation was the only issue they found.

My dd was on an IEP and received speech therapy through the school district off and one for almost five years. During all of this time, the speech therapists were wonderful! I had no problems dealing with the school. When I decided we'd had enough speech therapy, I terminated the IEP. That's it. My dd is now 17yo and no one is even interested to know whether or not she ever was in speech therapy. No one is tracking her.

I don't understand your reasoning. Your fears seem completely emotional in nature. Unless you have some facts or logic to support your position of paranoia, I would strongly urge you to reconsider. Speech therapy through our school district saved us a *ton* of money which, in the long run, we needed for therapies later on. The pre-k screening did not catch all of my dd's problems -- severe phonemic awareness delays, multiple severe visual efficiency delays even though her visual acuity was okay -- and we paid thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for therapies to remediate those problems.

Having said all that, there is nothing unethical about hiring a school speech therapist to provide private sessions outside of school time. We did this during the summers, when the school district did not provide speech therapy. This was considerably less expensive than going to a clinic for speech therapy sessions, and just as effective.

[Mandamom]

[QUOTE=PixieKris;40096]I think I would assume they are not doing developmentally inappropriate Standardized testing, but rather a "test" that looks for developmental milestones, and gives the professionals a way to track their work? Like any "test" we have to be careful of how we intrepret and use that information... >>>>>

Yep, two of my kids have been through speech therapy (my almost 2 year old is currently) and they do the developmental test to make sure that other disabilities aren't missed. As part of the IDEA (IEP), states are required to do a "child find" to make sure that early testing and intervention starts to assist with learning disabilities.

I do understand your concerns about being tracked by the state so I would think you have a choice. Benefit from the free school program or pay for your own. My only choice was the free one due to costs.

[Kathy in MD]

tests. He was slightly behind in several areas, but I thought I knew what was wrong, thought the other tests were a waste of time and nudged/pushed the evaluators into ignoring the other results. :(

It's too bad that my ds didn't have follow-up screening/testng. All the other "small" problems ds had during that initial screening were signs of major developmental problems. A 6 or 12 month follow-up would have given the screeners and me more important info. Unfortunately ds's problems were caught years later with a lot more anguish for ds.

BTW, I also let my ds's "kindergarten" ST talk me out of testing prior to dismissing him from speech therapy. If I had insisted on testing, we sould have learned that she had focused on diction and had totally ignored the causes of my ds's diction problems - deciphering sound. We wasted 2 years before getting him back into ST.

[K&Rs Mom]

Thanks everyone - you've given me a lot to think about on both sides....

[Kelli in TN]

Aubrey,
Testing does not scare me, but the word mandatory does.

I have had evals done through the school and just recently requested another. But I requested them. I want them. I would be bothered if they told me that I had to submit my child to their mandatory testing. I don't know if that would be a deal breaker, but I would be bothered.

I would start by finding out the following: Who sees the tests? Will you have a copy of all tests and results? What are the results for? Who will administer the test? Can you be in the room, or at least right outside an open door, while the tests are adminstered? What would be the result of refusing this test?

I managed to be IN THE ROOM while my son was be tested! Yup, totally against the policy of the school psychiatrist. All I had to do was say "Justice, tell the nice lady what you did today." And he did. And she knew right then and there that she could not understand 90% of what he just said and that if I were not there to translate, this was not going to go well!!:D

[K&Rs Mom]

We started today at her regular speech appointment. She actually couldn't finish this part of the test because the therapist wasn't prepared to go past the 6yo questions. :D It was just simple things, like identifying pictures, what goes together, some social/functional knowledge (which utensil do you use for applesauce). I know there is a large motor component and I think a fine motor component also, that we'll do another day. Since we meet once a week, I think it will take a good month to do all the parts.

I was there the whole time. At this age, I think that's pretty standard, at least with this therapist. I am sitting next to her for all of our appointments, and have no intention of changing that. I didn't think to ask about the scores until after, but I hope to have a copy and will clarify that next week. If we had refused, speech therapy through the school system is over. This test is how the state tracks progress and, I assume, decides which therapists are really doing their jobs well.

Thanks again, everyone, for all of your input. It gave dh & me a lot to discuss. Right now, it's info that no one will probably ever look at, and couldn't do much even if they did, so we decided we're willing to live with giving it to the state in return for their speech therapy services.

[Ria]

I think the testing is a fantastic idea to make sure there are not other delays or issues you might not know about. I think you should reconsider. Even doctors evaluate kids based on milestones...think of these tests along those lines. It's not a test per se, it's an evaluation to make sure the child doesn't have other issues.

Ria

[Claire]

IMO, you absolutely made the right decision! :)

[Donna]

I am a physical therapist and work in Early Intervention in NJ. A couple years ago the state began using a standardized test for all children entering and leaving the system as a way to track the effectiveness of the program as well as the child's individual progress.

The test used in NJ is age appropriate and can be used for children birth to 6 so allows progress to be tracked as the child moves into the school system following their 3rd birthday. Prior to the use of this test, every individual EI program and provider used a different set of tests so results could not be compared easily and progress/effectiveness of the program/therapy provided was more difficult to track.

That is probably what they are doing now in your state...trying to come up with a way to track effectiveness of their programming to become more efficient as a system. I do not know exactly how the data is used on a state level in our state except that the child's individual results are kept and with a parent's consent can be shared with the school system if the child needs therapies after their 3rd birthday. Because of national HIPPA regulations, no personally identifying data can be shared without parental consent.

[Remudamom]

I would not want the testing/tracking either. If you're a paranoid weirdo then so am I. But I don't see anything unethical in asking her to help you privately.