Alternative Assessments are a different means of assessing what a students knows and can do and must be relevant to the general curriculum and measure the student's progress toward meeting the State standards. Until the last five years, exposing special education students to the general curriculum was not common practice and many students with disabilities may have not had as much exposure to the test content as their non-disabled peers. Although Sharon students with special needs, did slightly better than the State average on the MCAS, the gap between the MCAS scores of students with and without disabilities in Sharon is quite similar to the pattern found in the statewide scores. We need to close this gap. As a school district we must continue to improve the learning environment and set high expectations for all students.
Expectations drive behavior.
If we think a kid can't learn he won't. Students with special needs have the right to learn the same material as their peers and to be held to the same standards. Students with disabilities come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities. They can amaze you with their intellect, courage, coping mechanisms, and compassion. Expect a lot.