Nearly all high school students with intellectual disability receive some type of accommodation at school and score below the norm on standardized tests, according to a fact sheet from the Department of Education.

The fact sheet released this week by the National Center for Special Education Research is part of the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2, a 10-year government study following 12,000 students as they transition from school to adulthood. It provides a snapshot of the experiences of students with intellectual disability, also called mental retardation. Here’s a look at the findings:

• Accommodation: 97 percent receive some type of accommodation or supports.
• Testing: 99 percent scored below the norm on standardized tests.
• Grading: 46 percent have modified grading standards. Meanwhile, 45 percent report getting mostly Cs and Ds in general education courses.
• Curriculum: 62 percent have a specialized, or highly modified, curriculum.
• Community Participation: 39 percent report rarely or never participating in community-based instructional experiences like learning to use public transportation.
• Related Services: 70 percent receive a related service like speech therapy, behavior counseling, adaptive physical education, occupational or physical therapy.
• Assistance: 39 percent have some type of personal aide at school.

The full fact sheet titled “Secondary School Experiences and Academic Performance of Students With Mental Retardation” can be found by clicking here.

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