I'm just not sure this type of test is the best way to assess his progress. Bertelsen said some students may not feel comfortable on a computer - though that is not the case with Justin, who enjoys surfing the Net for information about aircraft. Since it is a pilot program, results this year will not count as a graduation requirement or toward a school's rating for meeting, failing, or exceeding its goals set by the state. What's new this year is that no student can be exempt from them, based on changes made in 1997 to a federal law involving students with disabilities. Students previously exempt will now take the computerized exam or one of the other test versions especially designed for them.
Questions appear one at a time on screen.
If the student answers a question correctly, the next question will be more challenging. If the student answers incorrectly, the next question will be easier. A teacher must sit with the student to make sure that child moves on to the next question and can use the computer mouse. Or the teacher can operate the mouse for the student, if that's what is outlined on the child's educational plan. If the child is taking more than a day to complete the exam, the online version will hold the student's place until the child resumes the test.