I see that she fails to "*exceed* end of the year grade level expectations"... Wait, what? You refuse to assess her to see where she is academically, then tell me she is only "meeting grade level expectations" because you won't test her (or provide any) above grade level instruction? Infuriating!!! I am told it is a "district policy" not to test above grade level. AHHHH! Now I know how they get them to "all even out by third grade".
BTDT. On the bright side, some of the new testing is helping our cause. Our school recently adopted the STAR test, which is adaptive (giving the child harder items when they get easy ones right). The math ceilings at three years above whatever grade level they enter in the child's record; the language arts test apparently does not have such a ceiling (i.e. will test right up to 12th grade level for an elementary schooler).
After three and a half years of the school refusing to test DS's actual levels of performance, we now have evidence. Supplied by them. And they are showing signs of taking it seriously.
It is hard to get schools' practices to change, but sometimes possible.
