[cbuyrn]

I'm really sad to see an educator say that special needs students are a waste of time and should be put to work in trades at the elementary level. Attitudes like that have lead to NCLB. My ADHD and LD students really do demonstrate mastery of the SOLs throughout the year. They have tremendous potential. It is about time they have a reasonable opportunity to access assessment that recognizes their strengths. Multiple choice assessments don't provide a true picture of their abilities. Their inability to sift through multiple choice options doesn't mean they're hopeless. I have been tearing my hair out working on 21 portfolios. I see the potential for abuse, but I believe this is a good thing. As I review their work, I am proud of their ability to solve problems in open ended format activities. It shows how good they are at problem solving and critical thinking. Multiple choice testing is not a true test of ability. The LD and ADHD students benefiting from this option have higher IQs than many of the so called "normal" students. Many of the "normal" kids who ace the multiple choice SOL due to classroom focus on grill and drill test taking strategies can't figure their way out of a paper bag at the end of the day.