TAKS Test

It's my understanding that a child is passed on to the next grade based on grades- unless there is the additional requirement in that grade that the TAKS test be passed. I would schedule a meeting with the teacher, diagnostician, counselor, and principal to get to the bottom of this.

Go to Wrightslaw.com. Most studies show that retaining does not help students. Many students with ADHD do have learning disabilities. ADHD in itself is considered a disbility. If he has not been tested for special education then I would write a letter requesting that he be tested. The school then has 60 school days to test him. Also, if you don't have him on a 504 plan, that is something you can do immediately.

As long as they are passing you can talk to the school about passing them. I think you can appeal it also. Good luck.

My son is 10 and has ADHD. If your child has ADHD, he/she is entitled to additional academic assistance under Section 504..The rehabilitation Act of 197 that allows your child to take the TAKS test under different circumstances than regular students. There is also qual under the children with disabilities law. You need to seek information for the campus counselor and/or social worker.

Is the child failing the grade due to TAKS test or other grades? The TAKS test is given again twice (I think) during the summer and if passed, they revisit the initial decision and make a new decision on passing to the next grade.

Is this child in 3rd or 5th grade? I do believe that the new state rules ( they have changed a bit since I was a 5th grade teacher 4years ago) say that the child has to show improvement on each test, even if it is not passed,in order to be promoted by the Grade Placement Comitee (should be made up of a teacher, administrator and child's parent). The child should have 3 chances to pass the test. The last chance should be at the end of summer school. Check the Texas Education Agency website. You might find some info there. Good Luck!

A. Myers
Accelerate Academic Services- www.acceleratekids.com

I can tell you that my boyfriend and I were awarded custody of his two children in Jan. The son came to us with a diagnoses of ADHD and being Bi-Polar as well.

We met with the school staff in Plano where our son attends and spoke with them about our son's learning diability. The staff was more than willing to help us with his learning diability. Our main concern was the reading portion of the test because he was in a special education class prior to coming to live with us. It was explained to us that they would give him three tries at the TAKS. The first approach was to have the test read out loud and have him answer the questions accordingly since he struggled with reading comprehension.

To try and make a long story short, he is in regular classes each day except for an hour a day that he has special help with his reading. He passed all of the TAKS and he was academically recognized on the reading portion of the test and he will advance to the 4th grade. Yeah ! !

I would encourage you to speak with the school staff and ask for help in this matter.

Good luck and we have been truly blessed with the help that we have received from Hughston Elementary ;o)

I taught 3rd grade for 5 years. You didn't mention what grade your child was in or which test was not passed. A child will only be retained for failing a taks test in certain grade levels and certain tests. For example, if a child fails the 3rd grade reading test, he or she will have 2 opportunities for a retest and if those are not passed, then the child may be retained. If the 3rd grade math test is failed, there are no retests because that test is not a cause for retention. I believe, in elementary, students must pass the 3rd grade reading, 4th grade writing, and 5th grade reading and math(I could be incorrect about 5th grade). However, a failed taks test combined with low grades could be a strong signal to have the child repeat a grade. It is far better to repeat in lower grades than upper. Also, unless a student has modifications already in place before the test, they will have none during the taks test. It might be a good idea to go to the TX Education Association website and read up on the taks test. You will be better informed when you talk with your child's teacher. Please know that the majority of teachers are there to help your child however they can and they are only suggesting what they think is best for your child. I've never know a teacher to take the subject of retaining a child anything but seriously. Good luck to you and your child!

I teach in FWISD--HATE the TAKS test. You didn't say how old your child is but here's what I know for elementary TAKS stuff: 3rd and 5th are the crucial grades--as in, if they don't pass the reading or math in either one of those tgrades, they will be recommended for retention. 4th grade is not a 'must-pass' grade. In 5th grade, math and reading have to be passed but science does not in order to be promoted to 6th grade. In the grades where the student may be retained for not passing the TAKS, summer school MUST be offered (state law) and a the student is given 3 chances to take the test, the final one at the end of summer school.

As a former high school English teacher, may I give you a different perspective? If possible, have a meeting with his teacher in the subject that he failed on the TAKS. If he passed her class, make sure he wasn't holistically passed. What I mean by that is this. Sometimes it is easier on the teacher to have enough assignments in the gradebook to counteract any specific skill assessments with enrichment activities, projects, extra worksheets, etc. If he truly line for line has the skills and knowledge that were tested then fight like mad to get him passed. At that point, it is a testing issue.

I have passed students on that were questionable, simply because I caved in to pressure from parents and admin that don't believe in anyone failing a grade level. The few times this happened it was to save my career, not to benefit the student. I hated it, but sometimes the politics were beyond me.

What I would hate for you to do is overlook SKILLS and give excessive weight to his feelings about failing. There is a balance, and no one wants to see their child struggle. However, sending him on to high school without the skills will make it that much harder for him to overcome the obstacles that already accompany an ADHD situation.

I do wish you well. I have loaned my 'services' if you will to several families that need an outside ear to help deal with school districts - I even thought about making an advocacy business out of it! Your child deserves the best education that you can provide. Go with your gut - what in the long run will be more beneficial should be the deciding factor. I don't envy your situation. Whatever you decide is going to be tough on him or you as his advocate fighting for him.

Write back if you want to discuss further,
L.
former HS English and soccer at Coppell

I have read through the different responses to your question, and they are all excellent, so I will not repeat their good advice. As a former elem. school teacher who had to administer TAKS, I know what it can do to a child who has ADHD. ( I, too, share that diagnosis...) Let me assure you that the teachers never WANT to fail a child for just not passing a TAKS test--there is a complicated formula that is used to decide if the classwork and the TAKS score indicate that the child should be held back. You didn't say what grade your child was in, nor which TAKS he did not pass. Some hold more weight than others, esp, the Reading TAKS. Is your child helped by medication? I watched helplessly as children who most likely needed medication in order to be successful were denied it by their parents.(That really played havoc with their CoGat tests, which are timed.) If your child's ADHD causes a learning disability that has been diagnosed, then there is help within the Spec. Ed. umbrella. However, if your child does not require assistance within the regular curriculum, and his skills are on level, then I do not know if he qualifies for anything 'out of the ordinary.' I believe that any accomodations must already be in place prior to TAKS day. The teachers have a legal deadline that they must follow for accomodations to be allowed.
I will tell you what helped a couple of my kids, who had short attention spans: my principal was not one who 'watched the clock' on TAKS day, and I was allowed to give fairly frequent breaks (including food,) and if the kids needed to work through the afternoon, after most of the others went home, that was okay with her. As long as we followed testing protocol in the classroom, and parents and principal were aware that children were still working, we could take as much time as needed. It really helped some of my slower thinkers, who fatigued easily, and they did not feel like they had to just fill in a bubble to get out of there. Because I had already done extensive tutorials in the same room with them, and we had a comfortable relationship, that helped remove the fear factor, too, which can be a booger! The first year I did this, all of my high risk kids passed the test, even though they continued to learn at a slower pace than the others. In the following years, I was very pleased to see that they continued to be successful on the tests!
When I changed schools, and the two principals for whom I worked DID watch the clock, my strugglers were not as successful either year, so I do believe that there was a direct correlation between extra time, feeling comfortable in the classroom and with the teacher, and snacking to keep the brain working at its best. That's how I get the most done!
Good luck to you and your child. Someday, this will all pass...C. A.

I have a family member that has 2 sons(3rd & 5th grade) that were both on the A-B honor roll last year. They were both unable to pass a portion of the TAKS test. They went to summer school and did not pass it there either. Their parents took them out of the public school system and put them in a private school for a year. So if placing your child in private school is an option, you may want to look into that. I have a friend that has a son with ADHD, he was in 5th grade last year and did not pass the TAKS test in summer school. She did not find out until she was enrolling him into a different school right before 6th grade. They told her that they were trying to contact her during the summer for a meeting to discuss possbile promotion. She missed the meeting, but she was able to set up a meeting with them before school started and he was promoted. So try to talk to your childs teachers show them your concerns and Im sure that they can work out promotion for him as well.

Hi J.,
I'm sorry to hear about this. My husband is a Special Education teacher at the junior high level and he works with ADHD kids. Is your child confirmed to have ADHD? My husband said there would be no way they could retain him unless there were other issues. Be sure you talk with the school principal and the head of the Special Education dept in the district, if you haven't already. What district are you in? What grade is your child in?

I hope you can get some more answers and find a little more help in the situation.

Jennfier

What grade? Has child been Medically Diagnosed with the ADHD? What is the classwork average in the subject the child did not meet the standard of TAKS test? Is the child in Special education or 504 ? Has the child ever been retained before? I need to know all of this info before making a response. My suggestion is aat this point is make an appointment with the principal or asstistant principal to discuss this but other if you have talked with the tescher first.

My daughter has Dyslexia, and the school had put her in a special program for the school year. She was actually taken to another class room with other kids that have similar issues and read the test. They took 2 days to do the exam with the "reader", other than on her own and in 1 day. Does your child have special accomodations for their l.d., or do they stay in regular classes? I know the teachers want the kids to pass as badly as we do. So communicate with the teachers and see if there is anything that can be done. My son has ADHD - in H.s. now - and although I didn't always agree with them, I tried to work with them as a team. I needed them on my side as much as possible. YOu can also talk to the counselor. They are there to help both the students and parents, and they have been instrumental with both of my kids school careers. If that does not get you anywhere, set up an appointment with the principle and have a meeting and see what can be done. They want the same thing you do - so I'm sure they will do everything within their power to help you. But there comes a point where their hands are tied. So then you take it to the superintendent. Sometimes we just have to accept the outcome, but know your child will be better for it. It's frustrating to think they might have to repeat a year, but if they are struggling acedemically, to repeat the year might give them a taste of success and help them to excel in the long run. Hang in there! It's trying to be a parent of an ADHD child - but my son has made it to JR in h.s. and is very well adjusted.

I have a son that is ADHD too. I've never had that problem, and my guess is that the staff doesn't care, but I could be wrong. If you have your child on the 504, they have to adjust things for them on their level. I would suggest that you try to get an ARD meeting with all that are involved and discuss your concern. I hope this helps some.

You can have him receive special ed services where he can get an IEP-individualized eduacational plan. This is not to say that your son is not able to meet standards, but it is to help him receive accommodations or modifications. If he tests to be exempt, then he won't have to take them. But the key is to be persistent. Not many will advocate for your child and you will have to be his BIGGEST advoccate. I am a teacher in the public school system and know that if a parent does NOT fight for his/her child, then he will be railroaded.

J., I have tutored many students over the years that have not pas the TAKS test, but have been on the A/B honor roll. This situation has taken place with students from a variety of public schools. Math is a subject that is learned over time and has many building blocks to follow. The public school teachers are tied to the TAKS test and are not given the true time that is needed to focus on "true" learning in many cases.

Your school does have the ability to hold back students in grades 3, 5, 8, and 12 for TAKS failure. I am located in Fort Worth near the intersection of 820 and I30 near Arlington and conduct summer math camps and math tutoring. Please feel free to call me at ###-###-####. Thanks, T. Willis www.christiancottageprep.com

You don't say hold old your child is. I kept my son home and he didn't take the test AT ALL until he was in 7th grade simply because he wouldn't READ the instructions on the test! Until a certain age--and I am not sure exactly what age that is now--the TAKS isn't mandatory. But you have to keep your child home that day.

They have pretty strict guidlines and if the child (having ADHD or not) isn't ready then he/she is likely not to pass the next level either... that can really make a child feel like they are only capable of failure. If you insist that he/she will be able to pass next years and keep up with all school work then you can insist on meeting with a 504 team (unless the child has an identified disability in which you would call an ARD) and discuss placement. Just stand your ground if you are 100% sure this is best for your child. Please understand that the school cannot mo\dify the actual test so your child must be able to pass on his own (though they may be able to place him in a quieter setting, they absolutly can't reword things or make sure he is bubbling in well etc).

If he is diagnosed with ADHD you have the ability to have an IEP for him. If you have this then your child is promoted through the ARD committee(you, teacher, principal, etc.) instead of based on a test. Also, if there is not the option in his grade to retest then they can not make him repeat based on the results. However, they can have him repeat based on his overall performance this year.

I have a big problem with the TAKS test, as many people do.
My daughter has always had a hard time with Math. We have hired tutors(who are teachers), she has gone to before, during and after school tutoring. Her teachers and tutors felt like she was ready and would do well but she failed the TAKS. She re took it a couple of weeks ago and we find out this coming week if she will have to take Summer School in order to be promoted to the 6th grade. It amazes me how my daughter has been on the A-B honor roll every six weeks and could be kept back if she does not pass this test. I have a friend who is a math teacher and is looking for a teaching job at a private school because he is so stressed out by the pressure of the TAKS. He is tired of only getting to teach TAKS all year. Students at my daughters school have got sick and vomitted on test day. A tutor told me that her son has high blood pressure from stressing over the TAKs. Sorry to go on and on, I am just so tired of the TAKS. I did want to share with you that my nephew who was ADHD and was in resource classes did not have to take the TAKS.

There is always a 3rd test administered in the summer for grades 3, 5, 8, & high school! Every public school in TX should offer this option!! Unless the child has failed course work throughout the year, a decision to retain should not be made until after the 3rd administration.

According to the state of Texas, there are certain grades where it is mandatory that your child pass the TAKS test to be able to advance to the next grade. Those grades are 3rd and 5th. He/she should be given three opportunities to take the test. They have already had two administrations during the school year. The third administration is on July 1. Check with your child's school about putting your child in summer school for intense instruction to help him/her pass the test.

If your child is not in 3rd or 5th grade, there might be other reasons for the school desiring to hold your child back. Our district's policy is that he/she must also be passing their coursework in all subjects.
Don't know if this helps or not.

my 5th grader, also ADHD, may have to repeat 5th grade if he doesn't pass the test. we should know soon if he didn't pass the second try. if that is the case, then he'll go to summer school and take it at the end of summer school. that will be his final chance. grade wise he's fine, it's just this test! argh! he's gotten special help studying for it and smaller groups to take it (such as to read instructions to him should he need it). we set this up in an ARD meeting in February and gave him as many helps as we could to succeed. it didn't work the first time. hopefully, the second time is the charm!