[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-603259-105":59,"doc-detail-603259-en":133},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":126,"head_meta":128,"extra_data":130,"updated_unix":132},105,"en","low-performance-on-high-stakes-test-drives-special-education-referrals-a-texas-survey","Low Performance on High-Stakes Test Drives Special Education Referrals - A Texas Survey","","Low performance on Texas high-stakes assessments is linked to increased special education referrals, retention mandates, and district-level accountability outcomes. The text traces the transition from TAAS to TAKS, explains IDEA and Texas rulemaking under the Texas Administrative Code, and describes when students may use accommodations, the State-Developed Alternative Assessment (SDAA), or an exemption. It examines how ARD committees, educational diagnosticians, and procedural safeguards shape eligibility decisions and assessment participation.",{"@graph":69,"@context":125},[70,84,104],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/low-performance-on-high-stakes-test-drives-special-education-referrals-a-texas-survey/603259/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":98,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":99,"interactionStatistic":100},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/low-performance-on-high-stakes-test-drives-special-education-referrals-a-texas-survey/603259.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"moss~","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-15",true,{"@type":101,"interactionType":102,"userInteractionCount":4},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":103},"ViewAction",{"@type":105,"mainEntity":106},"FAQPage",[107,113,117,121],{"name":108,"@type":109,"acceptedAnswer":110},"How does the document connect high-stakes testing to special education referrals?","Question",{"text":111,"@type":112},"It argues that low performance on assessments tied to campus and district ratings can contribute to more referrals. It also notes pressure on educational diagnosticians to recommend eligibility for special education services.","Answer",{"name":114,"@type":109,"acceptedAnswer":115},"What legal and regulatory framework governs special education students’ participation in statewide tests?",{"text":116,"@type":112},"The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires guidelines for participation and alternate assessments. Texas authorities cited include rules codified under the Texas Administrative Code and decision-making through the ARD committee.",{"name":118,"@type":109,"acceptedAnswer":119},"What assessment options and supports are described for students receiving special education services?",{"text":120,"@type":112},"The text describes accommodations and modifications for participation in the regular TAKS test, including oral administration of selected items and access to a word processor. It also addresses the SDAA option or exemption from the TAKS assessment when appropriate.",{"name":122,"@type":109,"acceptedAnswer":123},"What role do educational diagnosticians and ARD committees play in determining eligibility?",{"text":124,"@type":112},"Educational diagnosticians are described as assessment specialists whose expertise is relied upon heavily. ARD committee members work collaboratively to reach consensus, with procedural safeguards available if consensus cannot be reached.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":127,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":129,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":131,"site_id":62},603259,1792095983,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":134},{"doc_id":131,"user_id":135,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":136,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":137,"file_id":138,"file_url":139,"file_type":140,"file_size":141,"view_count":4,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":34,"language":142,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":143,"faqs":144,"seo_title":145,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":132,"read_time":146},962090895452,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_a8503ba1806abce46bf441b54a3ca4cd","Low Performance on High-Stakes Test Drives Special Education Referrals:  \nA Texas Survey  \nby Cheryl Fielding  \n“The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) is a classic example of the high-stakes test”(Gordon and Reese 1997, 347) . Campus and district ratings, student graduation, and accreditation investigations are tied to this test (Texas Legislature Online 2001) . Beginning with the 2002–03 school year, this test was renamed the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) (Texas Education Agency 2003) . Along with the new name came even higher stakes. Third graders who did not pass the reading section of theTAKS were required by state statute to be retained (Texas Education Agency 2001) . There are, however, exceptions to this rule. One of those exceptions applies to students receiving special education services (Texas Education Agency 2003; Texas Legislature Online 2001) .  \nThe Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that states develop guidelines for the appropriate participation of children receiving special education services in state and districtwide assessments and alternate assessments (IDEA Practices 1997). According to the Texas Education Code (TEC), the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) and the Commissioner of Education are assigned this specific rule-making authority. Their rules are codified under the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) (Texas Education  \nAgency 2000a; Texas Legislature Online 2001). A recent review of the TAC revealed that students receiving special education services maybe administered an alternative assessment known asthe State-Developed Alternative Assessment (SDAA), or they maybe exempt from the assessment altogether.  \nIf it is determined that it is appropriate for students receiving special education servicesto participate in the regular TAKS test, consideration must be given to appropriate testing modificationsand accommodations (IDEA Practices 1997). AUnited States Department of Education memorandum from Michael Cohen, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education and Judith E. Heumann, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services to Chief State School Officers, indicated that neither a state education agency nor a local education agency can limit the authority of the student’s special education committee to select individual accommodations and modifications in administration needed for a child with a disability to participate in statewide assessments (Cohen and Heumann 2001) . Examples of accommodationsand modifications might include reading selected test items orally to students, administering the test individually or in a smaller group, and allowing students access to a word processor. The purpose of these accommodations  \nThe Educational Forum • Volume 68 • Winter 2004 126  \nRESEARCH IN PRACTICE  \nand modificationsisto protect students from being penalized because of their disabilities (Shriner 2000).  \nIn a Maryland study, Ysseldyke, Thurlow, Bielinski, House, Moody, and Haigh (2001) found that 82 percent of students receiving special education services had some form of testing accommodations listed on their individual education plans. They noted that the accommodations and modifications provided during an assessment should be matched to those incorporated into classroom instruction. However, this is not mandated. In Texas, the student’s individual special education admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee is responsible for making these decisions (Texas Legislature Online 2001). However, if a student does not qualify to receive special education services, testing modifications, and accommodations, the SDAA test, or an exemption from the TAKS test, are not options via the special education route.  \nThe IDEA and theTAC also give authority totheARD committee to make the initial determination as to which students qualify for special education services (IDEA Practices 1997; Texas Education Agency 2000b). Determi","cbCaivdF6hIBYyHw","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaivdF6hIBYyHw","pdf",36965,"English","# BASIS FOR INQUIRY\n## Testing rules, participation, and exemptions for special education students\n## Accommodations and modifications in statewide assessments\n## Eligibility decisions by ARD committees and safeguards\n## Survey purpose and context","[{\"question\":\"How does the document connect high-stakes testing to special education referrals?\",\"answer\":\"It argues that low performance on assessments tied to campus and district ratings can contribute to more referrals. It also notes pressure on educational diagnosticians to recommend eligibility for special education services.\"},{\"question\":\"What legal and regulatory framework governs special education students’ participation in statewide tests?\",\"answer\":\"The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires guidelines for participation and alternate assessments. Texas authorities cited include rules codified under the Texas Administrative Code and decision-making through the ARD committee.\"},{\"question\":\"What assessment options and supports are described for students receiving special education services?\",\"answer\":\"The text describes accommodations and modifications for participation in the regular TAKS test, including oral administration of selected items and access to a word processor. It also addresses the SDAA option or exemption from the TAKS assessment when appropriate.\"},{\"question\":\"What role do educational diagnosticians and ARD committees play in determining eligibility?\",\"answer\":\"Educational diagnosticians are described as assessment specialists whose expertise is relied upon heavily. ARD committee members work collaboratively to reach consensus, with procedural safeguards available if consensus cannot be reached.\"}]","Low Performance on High-Stakes Test Drives Special Education Referrals - A Texas Survey | PDF",18]