It is no big deal, though I hear that some districts try to make it a big deal.
I hear they make it kind-of a big deal in my district. Haven't experienced it first hand yet myself though.
don't think that the testing really takes that long. My kids and most of their friends finished the testing in less than half the time given. Some teachers let them read when they finish early.
Hmm this is good to know. I know he's well above grade level in both reading an math so I know he'd probably do well... I just worry it would 'painful' physically and psychologically for him. However, maybe he'd be fine with it. It just seems like such an unnecessary thing to put him through.
My DD was tested "individually" by the school-- their decision, not mine.
"Special arrangements" were made so that a teacher proctored the tests in a safe and supportive setting.
This was written into my DD's 504 plan all along, btw.
IMO, you should work out accommodations (whatever you and they decide they need to be) in order to have him participate
as appropriate.
DD never found the tests themselves at all stressful-- we emphasized to her that she had to take them seriously because they mattered
to the school, but that her performance didn't matter a bit TO HER.
The individual testing meant that she took only as much time as required (as noted above-- it wasn't much)-- and got them out of the way during the 'first' testing window of the year, then didn't have to fuss with them the rest of the year.
Easy. Once we used the 504 plan to manage it.