Can a school district suggest lowering a borderline IQ in order to provide the child more services.?

Question

My daughter has been in special education since kindergarten. After years of various testing, and an IQ result of 72 to 74, she was diagnosed with auditory processing. She has below average scores in expressive and receptive language, math calculations. she does not want to do schoolwork. She is entering 12th grade and my last IEP meeting, it was suggested that she has not made any significant improvements since 9th grade and as parents we would benefit from allowing them to re-evaluate and alter the test scores to just below 70 so she can receive better support and eventually state benefits. My daughter does not like school, has a social phobia however she has two good friends who do not attend her high school. We are helping her try to find a job. She rejects some support because she does not want to admit she has a SLD. She did score higher in the visual/spatial section of testing. Private evaluation says her potential is greater than test scores indicate. I need to make a decision.

Answer 1

Are you schools offering to fudge the test or lie about test scores because they believe it will benefit your daughter? This is highly unethical and could really cause them to loose their credentials if someone reported them. I would be against people being untruthful even if their reported intentions are good. They school district is suppose to re-evaluate every 3 years but not fudge scores. It is great that you have had an outside evaluation and if they say she has greater potential then maybe you should press the school district to provide better services so she can meet her potential and let them help her that way if they are so motivated to help her.. instead of writing her off as a low IQ who will need life time assistance.

Answer 2

the school is required to provide an education for your child, but don't forget that you have a personal responsibility.  look at other options -consider your health insurance providing some of the needs required.  this may offset your own cost.  contact your state's Bureau of Disability for more resources.

Answer 3

When she turns 18 you won't have a choice in the matter. No I would not allow the school to lie on the test. All they can do legally is report that even tho she tests at a certain level they believe that she would benefit form services. based on her diagnosis. Has she received therapy for the dx?

Answer 4

It sounds like they might be trying to change her primary handicapping condition from SLD to MR. To qualify under Mental Retardation, a student must have an IQ that is significantly below average (typically below 70) AND deficits in adaptive behavior manifested during the developmental period. If your daughter has rejected support because she doesn't want to admit she has a specific learning disability, it seems logical to assume she would be even less likely to admit or discuss that she is mentally retarded. I don't believe that it would be ethical of the school district to lower her IQ score without providing an assessment that proves it is at that level. Perhaps they are looking at the variable range of the score. An IQ score isn't set in stone at one single number. A persons score can vary from day to day depending on factors like interest, motivation, attention, etc. Typically the score gives you an idea of the range that the person's cognitive ability is in. Since it was scored at 72-74 it is feasible that below 70 is in her variable range. However, she would also have to have deficits in adaptive behavior. Was she ever assessed with the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales or other such assessment? I think it really comes down to what you and your daughter feel comfortable with.