When the test scores are available for parents, be sure that you get a copy. If you don't understand what the scores mean, ask your child's teacher or principal to explain them. Remember that standardized tests may or may not match up well with the curriculum your child has been studying. If your child has low scores, inquire about reasons for these low scores. It may be that your child's teacher will want to compare notes with you to see if your child displays certain skills at home which have not been noted at school.
Standardized tests are nothing to fear.
The results may be useful in planning your child's program, but they are certainly not as meaningful as the continuous assessment that goes in your child's classroom. Having the experience of taking the standardized tests that all the other children take is, however, another step toward having students with disabilities more fully included in their school's educational program. You have heard in previous PLUK articles about monitoring for improved outcomes and results for students in special education as related to overall state wide and local educational improvements for all children. In the past 25 year special education focused primarily on equal opportunity or access to public education. Now the shift in emphasis moves to looking at outcomes and results for our kids with disabilities.