"No Child Left Behind"...the worst thing that EVER happened to American children with severe disabilities.

Don't get me wrong.  This law has been effective for borderline kids, those with very mild disabilities or language lags.  Why?  Because this law required data-based proof that children are reaching reading and math goals, based on annual tests such as the CRCT.  It put principals and administrators of special education to task in a way that did benefit our society and our schools.  ALL EXCEPT FOR THE CHILDREN THAT NEEDED HELP THE MOST, and I would add for fiscal thinkers, the ones that will cost the most in the long run if they don't get the proper early intervention. Look at the organizational ladder of public schools.  A great teacher might become an IST (Instructional Support Teacher) and get a hefty raise.  The IST then proves herself by raising CRCT scores and lands the lovely job of assisant principal (lounge there while you can is I what I hear).  Then principal, coordinator, administrator...and hey!  Before you know it, you are the superintendent. The problem is that children like Tommy can't take the CRCT.  Thus, they don't advance the principal, assistant principal or Instructional Support Teacher's standing-no promotion, no raise, no recognition or awards.  THINK ABOUT THIS LONG AND HARD and then try to put yourself in our shoes as far as dealing with resources through principals and administrators of what "USED" to be special education in this country but is now simply a race to help the majority and an a catastrophe for MY child.

A school is required to make Annual Yearly Progress-AYP.   This progress is based on a test that many kids with disabilities can't take.  If the tests aren't up to par, the school gets penalized and put on probation.  Neither the principal, nor any anyone looking for a promotion or raise will get one in a school that doesn't make AYP, and this is ALL the responsibility of the school's principal, who these days uses the department of special ed (which USED to put kids with REAL disabilties first)and forces them to prioritize not truly disabled children, but children with extremely mild disabilities, or children who have English as second language. To make the situation worse, IF a school does not meet the criteria for CRCT test scores, it is then penalized, which not only harms the reputation of the school but also all those working in it, basically killing their chances of the promotions and raises they seek. I have watched principals hire the BEST OF THE BEST in special ed to tutor and teach "resource classes" full of "borderline kids" as they hire the least expensive teacher or para in the area to teach the more disabled children.  That is why parents of children with severe disabilities end up in court and lawsuits.  And parents of typical kids see us a "difficult" and "complainers".  Well, parents of typical kids who may be struggling or borderline in school, congratulations for having the law on your side!  Those of us parenting and tending to the schooling is our children with severe disabilities have to take our love for our kids, and the recognition that this law, NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, harms them, and push for an addendum, a test, something can be added to this law, No Child Left Behind...that would magically give the same incentive to school systems to push our kids toward their goals. A new test, the same pressure on principals, special education departments, Instructional Support Teachers...something that requires THEIR promotion to also include the progress of our kids.
You might argue that our kids have "IEPs" (individual education plans).  Unfortunately, these have become weaker and weaker.  Children in special ed with severe disabilities now have Pass/Fail grades.  And many school systems can write a "P" for progress even if the child has barely even started to meet a goal.  The bottom line is that in REAL special ed , it is all about the teacher, the parapro, the therapists and their skills.  Sadly, I have found that following in the footsteps of parents of disabled kids who have special ed lawyers (or are special ed lawyers) clear the way in a school for years. Follow the lawyers and make you child's IEP count. It won't be easy/ Sometimes you just get lucky, and we are right now.  You get a teacher who really is just there because they love disabled kids. You get therapists who know their stuff, and you get parapros with big hearts. And you supplement where you can to help your kid by finding opportunities for kids with autism to become part of a community of play clubs such as Learning on the Log or Sensations Therafun. The bottom line though is that our fight, the fight of children with disabilities, is very different from that of the average parent and always will be as long as No Child Left Behind provides no incentives to school systems to intensify their efforts to help the population of kids who need it the most. Without built-in incentives for those who work with our kids, it is a daunting task indeed.