Notes

Outline

The Parent as Advocate       Peter W. D. Wright & Pamela Darr Wright http://www.wrightslaw.com

Overview Know Child: Organize File Understand Test Scores & the Bell Curve Learn How to Write IEPs Prove Your Case: Use “Letters to the Stranger;” Other Documents Learn How to Deal with School System; Hone Negotiation Skills

The List of Documents Use a word processor to make a chronological list of ALL documents    Date       Description      Comments    10/6/99   Psych. Eval    Scores dropped    11/9/99   Educ. Eval     No progress    1/15/00   Eligibility       Change to ED     2/1/00    IEP               In ED class

Use Evaluations to Measure Educational Progress Learn: What tests & subtests measure Learn: The Bell Curve Learn: Standard Scores Learn: Percentile ranks Learn: To Chart Test Scores

The Bell Curve      -2SD    -1SD     mean   +1SD   + 2SD      70         85         100       115      130      2%      16%       50%      84%     98%

The Bell Curve Learn: What tests really measure Learn: Composite scores, subtest scores Learn: Standard scores (SS), percentile ranks (PR), grade equivalent (GE) scores, age equivalent (AE) scores Learn: Measure educational progress Learn: When does apparent gain mean loss (regression)?

How to Chart Test Scores Over Time Find repeated educational achievement tests Examples Woodcock Johnson Tests Kaufmann (KTEA) Wide Range Achievement Tests (WRAT) Standardized Group Batteries Compare scores; measure change in percentile ranks

Woodcock Johnson Scores: Standard Scores                 1/90      5/91        10/92        6/95 Reading      97 94      90    78 Writing      87 92      91    84 Math    115       105      97    95 Mean    100       100    100 100

Woodcock Johnson Scores: Percentile Ranks

Bar Graphs - Woodcock Johnson Standard Scores

Bar Graphs - Woodcock Johnson Percentile Ranks

Woodcock Johnson Reading Scores as Percentile Ranks

Woodcock Johnson Writing Scores as Percentile Ranks

Woodcock Johnson Math Scores as Percentile Ranks

3 Dimensional Bar of W-J % Rank Scores

3 Dimensional Line of W-J % Rank Scores

IEPs with Measurable Goals & Objectives Example #1: Typing/Keyboarding By June 15 2001, Johnny will type a passage of text at a rate of 35 words per minute with not more than 5 errors on a 5 minute timed test. Example #2: Decoding Skills By June 15 2001, Johnny will improve letter-word identification skills from the 10th percentile level to the 25th percentile level, as measured by the WJ letter-word subtest.

Summary Learn about the facts and law Organize your child’s file Use the Bell Curve to chart test scores Develop a theme that generates empathy and desire to help

The End    Peter W. D. Wright, Esq.    & Pamela Darr Wright, LCSW Site: http://www.wrightslaw.com Email: webmaster@wrightslaw.com