Needs Improvement List in Serious Need of Improvement

David S. Feller North Merrick UFSD, Superintendent Nassau County Council of School Superintendents’ Special Education Committee, Chairperson November 18, 2011

I write in response to the recent coverage throughout the State regarding the large increase in schools that are on this year's Needs Improvement List. My reaction comes from the dual perspective of having been a special education teacher/administrator as well as that of a parent of a young man who has been an inspiration to me in his efforts to cope with a learning disability.

While schools and educators must be held accountable for the progress of their students, the Needs Improvement List is more about assignment of blame. The list came with a status indicator column advising the public as to the reason why a school or district found itself to be in need of improvement. Most articles made sure to indicate that the majority of the newly identified schools were there due to the performance of one group - special education students. This does an extreme and shameful disservice to these youngsters, their parents, and the schools and teachers that have worked diligently to help these children. The Needs Improvement List, I fear, will give the public the distorted notion that schools that did not make AYP solely due to the special education population are failing to meet the needs of these youngsters. Even worse might be the impression created that these students are failing.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Artificially created targets do not reflect the real progress that special education students make on a daily basis with much struggle and support. We should applaud when a student with severe learning challenges moves from a low Level 1 to a high Level 1 or from Level 1 to Level 2 on an ELA or Math exam. We must celebrate the progress that these youngsters make - not to sort them or their schools as falling into a category of failing or "needs improvement."

The other more insidious danger in listing schools as failures solely on the basis of special education students not making AYP is that we run the risk of scapegoating these students. With so much emphasis placed on test results, it would be a shame if the talk in the local supermarket shifted to: "My school would have been at the top of the list were not if for 'those' kids." I worry that some administrators and parents of non-special needs students will no longer want to house high quality special education programs in their schools out of fear that "those children" will bring down our scores - how pathetic. Is that what accountability is supposed to be about?

Another upsetting aspect of these accountability lists is the fact that special education students are lumped together in one category – a distinct “sub-group” as decreed by our policy makers. This in and of itself is discriminatory, misleading and gives the impression that all students with special educational needs are one monolithic group. This is certainly not the case as students within this category range in cognitive ability from severely impaired to intellectually gifted. Artificially forcing any group of students into one category has the unfortunate impact of reinforcing stereotypes and in the process robs children with special needs of their unique identity.Finally, publishing a list like this, in some smaller districts, can be construed as a violation of confidentiality. In smaller communities, the public is fully aware of the identities of some of our most challenged children with special needs.

As I reflect on the journey of my younger son, he always struggled with state assessments and I'm certain that his scores did not help the school's overall standing. Despite this, he made great progress, thanks to his drive, the guidance of some very caring teachers and a supportive family. No one would have predicted, solely based on his state assessment scores and other traditional measures that he could even go to college. While the struggle continues, he's now in his sophomore year at a four-year college and we couldn't be more proud of what he's accomplished. There are thousands of other success stories like my son's that happen on a daily basis. Let's include these stories and publish them on a List. Clearly, the "Needs Improvement" list is in serious need of improvement.

David S. Feller has been Superintendent of Schools in North Merrick for the past eleven years. His prior experiences included twenty five years as a special education teacher and administrator. Mr. Feller is also the chairperson of the Nassau County Council of School Superintendent’s Special Education committee. One of his proudest professional accomplishments was being named as the 2010 Person of the Year by the Long Island Association of Special Education Administrators.

Contact Information: David S. Feller Superintendent of Schools North Merrick Public Schools North Merrick, NY 11566 Work Number – 516-292-3694 Mobile Number – 516-351-4971 Email – dfeller@nmerrick.org