One Size Does Not Fit All

As a special education teacher, I meet with my student's parents each year to discuss how their child is doing and the plans for the following year. For student's in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, the subject of mandatory state testing always comes up. Usually special ed students are at least one grade level below where they should be, sometimes even lower. Invariably, parents will ask if their child will be tested on the grade level they are reading on. I explain to them that even if their 5th grade child reads on 2nd grade level, he will still have to take the 5th grade state test. Unfair? Yes, but there is nothing teachers can do about it..it's the law.
I understand that children need to be challenged in school in order to grow but situations like these do nothing but crush a struggling child's confidence. Our government has taken the one-size-fits-all model of business and is trying to force it on children. Everyone knows that every child is different and we must meet their needs at their level before challenging them. Special education students and English language learners need to have some confidence in their ability and be able to show growth in their own way....not with a generic test assumes that every child learns the same material at the same pace.