Dept. Mum on Rules for Special Ed.Testing

States seek extension of interim flexibility for 2 percent of test-takers.

The U.S. Department of Education said last week that it has yet to decide whether to extend an interim policy that allows states to adjust test scores for certain students with disabilities who are believed to be able to meet grade-level standards, but at a pace slower than their peers.

States have pressed for an extension of the policy, which was put in place as the department developed No Child Left Behind Act regulations for testing the 2 percent of all students that it estimates should be taking modified tests based on grade-level standards that aren’t as broad and deep as those for the general student population.

States have been permitted to use a proxy measure for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years in exchange for agreeing to develop modified tests based on the regulations, which are still not final. Among those requesting an extension of the interim policy during the department’s 75-day comment period on the proposed rules were the Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Association of State...