Students with disabilities

In researching the No CHild Left Behind Act I found an article written by the superintendent of the Ventura Unified School District, Trudy Arriaga. The article was written in response to political statements that were made about the districts standing. The article stated that the district only met 37 out of the 38 requirements they were supposed to meet. The one requirement they did not fulfill was that they were supposed to have 95% participation in the state testing of students with disabilities. The district had 99% participation however some students were not counted because they were allowed modifications during the test. "Students with disabilities used modifications, i.e., questions were read or signed (sign language for deaf students) to the students during the exam, as stipulated in their Individualized Education Plan, their participation in the exam was not counted."-Ventura County Star October 8, 2009

It seems very contradictory to allow a student to have an IEP with modifications and not be allowed those same modifications during the star testing. If we are supposed to be giving students equal opportunity for success shouldn't these modifications be allowed for special needs students.