Thanks very much - very interesting and valuable information

I am familiar with the book although I have not read it.

At my last school half the students were on the Honor Role. The reason for this is that parents thought their child was doing well, and it is is harder for parents to complain when there child was on the Honor Role.

Teachers have learned to only give tests where the answer is right or wrong. IE multi choice, True False. This way parents can not fight to improve their kids grade if the teacher had given an essay or short essay response which can be subjective.

American kids get a terrible shock when they go from High school as an 'A' student then go to college and realize that they are really a 'C' student. Hence huge number of drop outs first year of college.

This is exactly what I would say of our local school district. People choose it because they know if offers excellent support.

I would also look carefully at class sizes. Our schools have a limit of 12 in Kindergarten, 18 in the next few years, and 24 in middle school classes. It's much easier for a teacher to differentiate learning when they have smaller classes IMO.

*amazed* I cannot imagine any circumstance in which I, as a parent, would do this. Either my child is young enough that meh, getting dinged with a bad essay grade doesn't matter anyway, or my child is in high school, and perfectly old enough to argue his own case with his teachers.

I don't suppose the apparent total inability to cope with their own life helps either.

In the district I work in there is a program that helps children at risk and there is a program that helps children that are struggling at least two grade levels behind in math, reading and writing.

I can't imagine retaining a child that didn't read at grade level....what happens if they don't actually read at grade level the following year? Yikes!

Hi, I'm originally from the UK but currently working in the US as a SpEd. case manager in an elementary school. I'd be happy to help with any questions you might have. Please feel free to PM me.

A Learning Support room may have fewer students, but they could be different ages, different grades and even different subjects all being taught at the same time. Of course this can not be done unless teacher gives the students busy work / work sheets as direct instruction , if any will be limited.
Now No Child Left Behind has been withdrawn at the federal level and returned to each individual state, budgets will determine the quality of special education, and of course parent power will be reduced.

i agree personally - BUT here in Texas = Football is king. In our district kiddos need to maintain a 70% all subject pass rate to be eligible to play for the school in any sport or fine arts (band orch choir etc). If little Tex is scrapping along on a 65% in one weak subject - i could definitely see his parents pushing the teacher to regrade so they can hit the 70 and thus play on the team for the next quarter.

and in reply to the orig poster.

my 3 kids are all doing well in school. But they all have to some degree or other speech issues. (i cant even tell for one of them but they school hears it so ....). Anyways- the school asked us if they could be assessed, they saw a speech therapist in school who determined that they could do with the help, an IEP was drawn up - stating all the legal buzzwords etc and essentially my three are pulled out of classes for 30 mins 1-2 a week and get free speech therapy. Also in school we have several kids who are blind and have permanent help on hand, and kids with various reduced mental and/or physical issues. This is in Texas (burb outside Dallas).