Special education teachers' perception of the high stakes testing and the self-efficacy of students with special needs

Abstract

The ideas of standardization found in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and individual needs of the student found in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 seem to be in opposition to one another when it comes to high-stakes testing and the students with special needs. As fewer options remain available for these students in the state of Texas, these students are failing grade level assessments at an alarming rate. According to efficacy theory proposed by Bandura and Shunk, these failures will produce lowered efficacy in the students who are already struggling. This in-depth qualitative multiple case research study explores the perceptions of five special education teachers about the state mandated high-stakes tests and the effects on the self-efficacy of their students with special needs in three West Texas school districts. While there is a body of research dedicated to the effects these tests have had on general education students, there is little research done on the effects on student with special needs. These students are already at a disadvantage compared to their peers because in order to qualify for special education services, they must show to be behind grade level by one to two grades. This research found that there is a link between testing failures and the efficacy of the students with special needs in these schools. While most agreed that testing is necessary, the participants in this study disagreed with current policy of testing the majority of their students with special needs at grade level without modifications. Each had recommendations for changing the tests for their students and believed that the current testing had more negative effects on students with special needs.

Description

Keywords

Special Education, Self-Efficacy, Efficacy, Children, Education, Special Needs, High-Stakes Testing, Testing, NCLB, IDEA, Bandura, Freire, Dewey

Citation