Swine Flu in PWC Schools
By Greg L | 10 June 2009 | Prince William County | 48 Comments
The News & Messenger is reporting a confirmed case of “swine flu” has been detected at West Gate Elementary School. No big surprise there, if you’re familiar with the neighborhood it serves at all. Although the student with the virus hasn’t been identified for obvious reasons, my strong suspicion is that the parents of this student are among the group that use foreign-issued identification documents that can’t be validated when checking in at the front door. Now the school system is contemplating how to address this, and closing the school isn’t outside of the realm of possibilities.
I guess this is another example of the benefits of blind adherence to diversity dogma that demands taxpayers welcome illegal aliens and the children of illegal aliens into our school system. Some kids just might get an early summer vacation, and escape what passes for the last week of instruction within the Prince William County School System.
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I suspect that this second surge is being carried by illegals.
I wouldn’t go shopping at Global Food anytime soon.
Hmmm…it’s not like they are doing anything worthwhile in school right now. Playing cards, watching movies — yup, that is what they are doing since the completion of the SOL tests. So they might as well call it quits early and save some money on bussing the kids to and from.
And, did you see the utilization of the portfolio or the VGLA for students unable to take the regular SOL tests (it was in the newspapers this week with a picture/article about it). Schools are using that to get passing SOL grades for their students thus many of the schools will be getting great SOL results. Since it is up to the teachers/administrators to put this portfolio together, the students can redo something until it is perfect thus worthy of being included in the portfolio. No wonder so many schools are taking this route!!!
Greg,
you do some really great reporting; however, leaping to the conclusion, “…my strong suspicion is that the parents of this student are among the group that use foreign-issued identification documents that can’t be validated when checking in at the front door” without evidence is just too much of a stretch for me. All you have to do is ride the metro to get exposed to a variety of “interesting” people from around the world and pick up the bug. Think about where you’ve probably been today.
Just my opinion.
Just about every case identified so far had to do with someone having been in Mexico. Those few cases not directly connected with having recently been in Mexico have all had to do with close personal contact with someone who had recently been in Mexico.
Simple probabilities make my strong suspicion statistically valid. Sure, there’s a chance there’s no direct or closely indirect association with folks who somehow evaded inspection at a border crossing station where such an infection would have likely been detected, but when those probabilities fall into the single digits, I’m pretty comfortable with suspecting a connection with illegal aliens here.
We’re talking about Westgate here, also. Not quite unknown to the illegal alien community, by any stretch of the imagination.
How about the social promotions. Nowadays no one repeat no one gets kept back. Keep em moving upward and onward. There are kids in college that can’t read or write at a high school level.
very true,
a lot of stupid kids out there these days, many of them illegals trying to get in state tuition even. I wouldnt doubt if the swine flu victim is illegal or someone who cohabitates with illegals
WEST GATE ELEM.
8031 URBANNA RD
MANASSAS, VA 20109
703-368-4404
I’m just saying… said on 10 Jun 2009 at 3:26 pm: Flag comment
Greg,
you do some really great reporting; however, leaping to the conclusion, “…my strong suspicion is that the parents of this student are among the group that use foreign-issued identification documents that can’t be validated when checking in at the front door” without evidence is just too much of a stretch for me.
I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch when 66 percent of the school is Hispanic. 66 to 1 odds aren’t too bad!
WESTGATE ELEMENTRY SCHOOL
Type: Primary School
Start Grade: Prekindergarten
End Grade: 5th Grade
# Students 631
# Full-time Teachers 47
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.4
Student Demographics
Hispanic 418 66.2%
White 99 15.7%
Black 83 13.2%
Native American 1 0.2%
Asian 8 1.3%
Special Programs
Migrant Students 0%
Free Lunch 317 50.2%
Reduced Lunch 108 17.1%
Free or Reduced Lunch 425 67.4%
Wow, do you all know anyone that goes to that school?? I would seek an alternative…
Free or Reduced Lunch 425 67.4%
We should send the bill to Mexico!
It is not the children. Check to see who is cleaning the school.
Although the student with the virus hasn’t been identified for obvious reasons, my strong suspicion is that the parents of this student are among the group that use foreign-issued identification documents that can’t be validated when checking in at the front door
Pretty high jump to a conclusion.
Just about every case identified so far had to do with someone having been in Mexico.
Um, That is not true.
Those few cases not directly connected with having recently been in Mexico have all had to do with close personal contact with someone who had recently been in Mexico.
Um, That is not true.
with folks who somehow evaded inspection at a border crossing station where such an infection would have likely been detected,
One can be infected and show no symptoms, so the infection is not likely to be detected at the border. Many countries in Asia do a better job of trying to detect infected people, and they have gotten through there detection mechnisms.
So Pat,
Are you going to dispute the facts stated above your post? Now who do you think is getting the handouts from the tax payers? First they don’t pay to have the children, and then we get to feed them as well. And some will say they don’t get tax payer supported benefits. BS!
Anon -
What facts?? A kid in school got Swine Flu - that is the only fact here.
Who that child is, we do not know, are his parents citizens, again we do not know - jumping to conclusions is not facts. Using probabilty is not a fact. Do you know where this child was born?
Fact: One of the schools with the highest percentages of latino children of low-income parents, serving an area where illegal aliens are clearly present in large numbers, gets the first case of Swine Flu in Prince William.
Nah, it couldn’t have anything to do with illegal aliens. Not at all.
Big deal. Seems that more people have worse reactions to peanuts and bees than what has happened over the Swine Flu hype. Which, by the way, appears to have ended along with the May sweeps…
Guess this is a moot question now. According to a Washpost report this morning, the student is recovering nicely, for which I am very happy.
anon - I agree wholeheartedly.
P.S. It’s still a good idea to wash your hands after you have handled money, which I believe is the biggest germ spreading source. (Many cashiers are now wearing rubber gloves).
I think what’s utterly amazing is that the percentage of hispanic students and the percentage on free/reduced lunches almost coincides!
just chaps my a&& that children of illegals are getting free food out of MY pocket.
Are you aware that most undocumented workers ARE PAYING taxes. Taxes come out of their checks, just like everyone elses. Unless, of course they are paid in cash. . . Where does all of that money go? They are certainly not getting it back at the end of the tax year
Anon and all who read his comment on the VGLA/VAAP portfolio in lieu of SOL comment: It is not accurate that teachers do the portfolios until they are ideal and it is not accurate that schools can get great SOL scores because of the choice to do a portfolio instead of the SOL, and I want to clear that up. I am highly critical of abuses within the education system and of policies that undermine parental influence and academic excellence. Those of you who have read my posts know that. It is never, however, appropriate to distort facts and make suggestions of inappropriate conduct where it doesn’t exist. For those who are interested, below you will find the facts and the reality on VGLA and VAAP portfolios.
One of the big problems that almost immediately came to light once SOL testing began was the inability of special education students to successfully complete grade level assessments. While the SOLs helped to remind special educators that there are standards and that all students can make gains, it was, in some cases, unrealistic to believe that special education students could be assessed on grade level using traditional testing materials. As a result, the VGLA (Virginia Grade Level Alternative) and the VAAP (Virginia Alternate Assessment Program) portfolios were created. VGLA is for students who are able to learn and achieve on grade level, but who are not able to demonstrate those gains in traditional assessments. Instead, special education students who qualify for VGLA participation complete a portfolio in lieu of the SOL. For example, pretend that an SOL exists for community service that requires 3rd grade students to assist peers in need. We will call it SOL CS 3.3. Following an instructional unit on SOL CS 3.3, traditional students are tested with a question that asks the student to select the appropriate response from A, B, C or D after reading a passage about a service need. A 3rd grader with special needs who has been taught about that SOL and who has learned the lesson, but is not able to understand and apply the information learned to a multiple choice test format can be approved to take VGLA and demonstrate the learning of the unit in another way. Perhaps the student demonstrates knowledge of SOL CS 3.3 by recognizing that a fellow student is struggling to pack his book bag in time for the bell, and as a result the student goes to his peer, acknowledges the problem and assists his peer in packing the bag. The teacher sees and photographs the student’s assistance of his peer and places the picture in the student’s portfolio to demonstrate that the student has learned and is able to apply the concepts of community service in CS 3.3. This student would then receive credit for successfully learning the lesson of this SOL, even though the traditional test would have indicated that the student did not master the concept.
The key to VGLA is that the students are tested on grade appropriate SOLs, just as others in the same grade, but using a different testing method.
VAAP is different. VAAP is for children who have more severe mental delays and are not able to perform on grade level. For these students, the standards come from the Individualized Education Plan and not from a grade level set of guidelines, and the students demonstrate competency in portfolio format. For example, if a student’s IEP states that one of the learning goals for the student for that academic year is to tell time to the half-hour, then the student would document his understanding and mastery of that goal in a portfolio format, probably through the use of a video to show the students’ interaction with his teacher and his correct identification of time when working with the teacher. VAAP is an extremely valuable assessment tool for special education students and allows for accountability of instructional faculty in special ed which had not existed previously. It ensures that realistic and “real” goals are set for children with severe delays and that gains are being made.
Schools and districts cannot use portfolios in lieu of SOLs as was suggested by ANON. The guidelines for qualification for these alternative assessment methods are strict, the first being that the student must have an IEP (be a special education student with a written plan designed by a team consisting of teacher, principal, parent,etc). Of those students who qualify by having an IEP, they must then qualify by having demonstrated an inability to perform on traditional testing methods and several other factors. It is also meaningful to note that the percentage of students in a district who can participate in alternative assessment is capped, preventing abuse of the portfolio system. This cap is more often a hindrance, preventing students who could benefit from alternative assessment from being assessed that way because the district has reached the cap, it in no way provides room for districts or schools to show wonderful SOL scores because of their use/abuse.
I hope this explanation has been clear and useful and I appreciate that people are interested in education and in the truth about what is going on in our public schools; good and bad.
In regard to the swine flu and its possible origin in the county schools, please remember that regardless of our views on illegal immigration, children are children, all precious, all made by God, and all deserving of concern and sympathy.
Cheetah, if you have objections to free/reduced lunch that’s understandable, but if you are just “chapped” because the children aren’t from one of your approved groups, perhaps you should put some cream on your cheeks and ask yourself what Jesus would think about all of this. Our area definitely faces a challenging problem that needs a solution, but if the solution involves shaming and differential treatment of small children I’m one conservative who can’t stand for that.
Interesting comment about the VGLA, did you read the comments on the Washington Post website about their article on grading the thousands of VGLA portfolios. Fairfax county had to use the Dulles Expo Center for 8 days to grade all their VGLA portfolios.
I am not talking about the VAAP but just the VGLA. The VAAP has a 1% cap but the VGLA doesn’t. There is NO LIMIT to the number of students utilizing the VGLA!!!
Yes, it requires an IEP for each student but the IEPs were being changed as each student was chosen for the VGLA. I am sure there are lots of honest teachers/principals who follow the rule but there are many who do not. And many administrators sees the VGLA as an EASY way to have these students who were sure to fail their SOL — pass them!!! It is usually these students’ scores that will help a school make AYP — it happened with our school and this year, even more IEPs were changed and portfolios were produced.
I think you are naive to believe that adminstrators won’t take advantage of this and by the increasing number of VGLA portfolios being submitted — everyone has caught on to this.
Tillie said on 11 Jun 2009 at 7:23 am:
P.S. It’s still a good idea to wash your hands after you have handled money, which I believe is the biggest germ spreading source. (Many cashiers are now wearing rubber gloves).
Don’t forget to do the same after pushing a cart in any of the local (Manassas) Walmarts, Lowe’s and Home Depot. You may end up with more than you bargained for.
Anonymous said on 11 Jun 2009 at 12:36 pm: Flag comment
Sorry, I left out K-mart
You left out Principi’s “non profit” care center, also.
wow! now we have the illegals pay taxes argument! wondered when that one was coming up! well, everyone pays sales tax. and illegals CAN file taxes and get refunds, however many do not. the ones that file and get refunds (or dont get them) are a minority (no pun intended). many get paid in cash and dont file at all.
let’s honesty look at the fact that hispanics didnt just appear here out of thin air, they had to come from “somewhere” and that “somewhere” was down south. whether most are illegal (or not) is a matter for the numbers, it depends on which party swings them their way.
From my experience living here (a short time) I would say probably about 25-30 percent are illegal, the rest legal relatives i.e. anchor babies or their babies, etc… and most people deep down (whether they admit it or not) dont want them here. the people that say it get ridiculed for being “racist” or some other such thing.
forgot to add about h1n1 (swine flu) it did come from mexico and now it’s a pandemic according the WHO. Thanks for the gift mexico, what an amazing country! they provide illegal aliens and swine flu! nice…
One who is intent on defrauding the system can claim a whole bunch of allowances on their W4 form so they have very little withholding.
The “honor system” doesn’t work with dishonest people.
Anon said on 11 Jun 2009 at 12:22 pm:
Flag comment
Interesting comment about the VGLA, did you read the comments on the Washington Post website about their article on grading the thousands of VGLA portfolios. Fairfax county had to use the Dulles Expo Center for 8 days to grade all their VGLA portfolios.
Anon, I was one of those scoring. And there were several who DIDN’T PASS. You can easily tell when the student was being prompted through work and when they done the work on their own. Some students will participate in the VGLA for English but not Math or other SOL’s. There are also limited accommodations - if it’s not on their IEP as an accommodation, they cannot use it.
If you believe that putting together a VGLA or VAAP binder is easy, I encourage you to try it sometime. Not only is it more time consuming that administering the SOL, there is a greater room for error. if there is not a correct id sticker on a piece of evidence, it’s not scored. If there is a hint of prompting or guiding, it’s not scored.
The state monitors the amount of VGLA’s from each district and school, as do the school districts themselves. If the subcategory of students with special needs seems to be out of proportion, then it raises suspicion.
As KFD said, it is the same material that students are tested on in the grade level SOL. It is a merely a different way for the student to show that he or she is able to demonstrate their knowledge of it.
Cheetah said on 11 Jun 2009 at 1:10 pm: Flag comment
forgot to add about h1n1 (swine flu) it did come from mexico and now it’s a pandemic according the WHO. Thanks for the gift mexico, what an amazing country! they provide illegal aliens and swine flu! nice…
Don’t forget the tomatoes and drugs.
yeah,
that’s right tomatoes
only I grow my own so I dont buy any at the store anymore (well, maybe the farmers market). Buy locally to prevent myself from getting anything nasty from down there.
drugs suck period, no matter where they come from
Cheetah said on 11 Jun 2009 at 9:40 pm: Flag comment
drugs suck period, no matter where they come from
Agree. MOST of the drugs entering this country come from guess where?
Hint: first letter of the country begins with a M and last letter is an O.
Here’s some more interesting data on the schools in the 20109 zip code. See where your tax dollars are going and to whom.
(MANASSAS VA)
(Source: 2005 data from U.S. Dept. of Education National Center for Education Statistics.
Please note that these listings are based on the NCES “Common Core of Data”
and therefore only include information about public schools.)
STONEWALL JACKSON HIGH
8820 RIXLEW LN
MANASSAS, VA 20109
703-365-2900
Type: High School
Start Grade: 9th Grade
End Grade: 12th Grade
# Students 2353
# Full-time Teachers 135
Student/Teacher Ratio 17.4
Student Demographics
Hispanic 648 27.5%
White 976 41.5%
Black 483 20.5%
Native American 6 0.3%
Asian 201 8.5%
Special Programs
Migrant Students 0%
Free Lunch 437 18.6%
Reduced Lunch 173 7.4%
Free or Reduced Lunch 610 25.9%
——————————————————————————–
STONEWALL MIDDLE
10100 LOMOND DR
MANASSAS, VA 20109
703-361-3185
Type: Middle School
Start Grade: 6th Grade
End Grade: 8th Grade
# Students 964
# Full-time Teachers 61
Student/Teacher Ratio 15.8
Student Demographics
Hispanic 344 35.7%
White 338 35.1%
Black 214 22.2%
Native American 0 0%
Asian 51 5.3%
Special Programs
Migrant Students 0%
Free Lunch 294 30.5%
Reduced Lunch 98 10.2%
Free or Reduced Lunch 392 40.7%
——————————————————————————–
C. A. SINCLAIR ELEM.
7801 GARNER DR
MANASSAS, VA 20109
703-361-4811
Type: Primary School
Start Grade: Prekindergarten
End Grade: 5th Grade
# Students 567
# Full-time Teachers 38
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.9
Student Demographics
Hispanic 236 41.6%
White 117 20.6%
Black 149 26.3%
Native American 3 0.5%
Asian 45 7.9%
Special Programs
Migrant Students 0%
Free Lunch 244 43%
Reduced Lunch 80 14.1%
Free or Reduced Lunch 324 57.1%
——————————————————————————–
GEORGE P. MULLEN ELEM.
8000 RODES DR
MANASSAS, VA 20109
703-330-0427
Type: Primary School
Start Grade: Prekindergarten
End Grade: 5th Grade
# Students 719
# Full-time Teachers 50
Student/Teacher Ratio 14.4
Student Demographics
Hispanic 280 38.9%
White 192 26.7%
Black 201 28%
Native American 2 0.3%
Asian 33 4.6%
Special Programs
Migrant Students 0%
Free Lunch 314 43.7%
Reduced Lunch 75 10.4%
Free or Reduced Lunch 389 54.1%
——————————————————————————–
SUDLEY ELEM.
9744 COPELAND DR
MANASSAS, VA 20109
703-361-3444
Type: Primary School
Start Grade: Prekindergarten
End Grade: 5th Grade
# Students 535
# Full-time Teachers 33
Student/Teacher Ratio 16.2
Student Demographics
Hispanic 205 38.3%
White 252 47.1%
Black 50 9.3%
Native American 2 0.4%
Asian 14 2.6%
Special Programs
Migrant Students 0%
Free Lunch 104 19.4%
Reduced Lunch 43 8%
Free or Reduced Lunch 147 27.5%
——————————————————————————–
SUELLA G. ELLIS ELEM.
8800 RIXLEW LN.
MANASSAS, VA 20109
703-365-0287
Type: Primary School
Start Grade: Prekindergarten
End Grade: 5th Grade
# Students 547
# Full-time Teachers 35
Student/Teacher Ratio 15.6
Student Demographics
Hispanic 204 37.3%
White 157 28.7%
Black 119 21.8%
Native American 3 0.5%
Asian 38 6.9%
Special Programs
Migrant Students 0%
Free Lunch 168 30.7%
Reduced Lunch 55 10.1%
Free or Reduced Lunch 223 40.8%
——————————————————————————–
WEST GATE ELEM.
8031 URBANNA RD
MANASSAS, VA 20109
703-368-4404
Type: Primary School
Start Grade: Prekindergarten
End Grade: 5th Grade
# Students 631
# Full-time Teachers 47
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.4
Student Demographics
Hispanic 418 66.2%
White 99 15.7%
Black 83 13.2%
Native American 1 0.2%
Asian 8 1.3%
Special Programs
Migrant Students 0%
Free Lunch 317 50.2%
Reduced Lunch 108 17.1%
Free or Reduced Lunch 425 67.4%
——————————————————————————–
amazing numbers provided by anon,
in almost all cases the free/reduced percentage seems to track with hispanic students.
interestingly enough stonewall where the higher percentage is white students have a lower overall percentage of free/reduced lunch than the rest..
No more free or reduced lunches unless the parents provide proof of legal status. Afterall, shouldn’t taxpayer benefits only be going to legal residents? Let us see how many of these parents are willing to step up with proper documentation. It should be a very simple task for those people not trying to hide anything.
I like the idea of requiring documentation in order to qualify for free and reduced lunch. It’s unlikely that a large portion of children would go hungry without the program as the lunches aren’t prohibitively expensive anyway and no teacher would allow a child to starve (not to mention most districts provide a substitute like a cheese sandwich to any child who doesn’t have lunch money on a given day).
There are some bigger issues with the free/reduced lunch qualification that I have discussed in greater detail at this link:
http://virginiavirtucon.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/if-its-thursday-in-u-s-schools-it-must-be-meatloaf-for-lunch/
but basically, reducing the numbers of children receiving free and reduced lunch would free up money in the school budget at the local level, but would cost the schools bunches in federal dollars, as federal programs and funding are based largely on the number of students receiving free and reduced lunch. To restructure the free/reduced system so as to save local dollars would require a district to become more self-sufficient and less dependent on the federal hand in education. I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all, I think we could all do a lot better with localized control and decision making and a stronger school board and parent alliance, even if that did mean less money, but few agree with me.
Rumor at Stonewall Jackson High School is that there are four unreported cases of swine flu…
Recent news says the vaccine for swine flu is currently being produced, may be a while before we see it in the states. will probably be given to people who are more at risk. If I were going to be around a bunch of illegals I would get it but as it is I stay away from those parts of town i.e. walmart, route 1, most fast food joints, verizon ditch diggers, etc…so I dont have much to worry about I suppose.
pinko…the ugly, fat, foul-mouthed pig is saying we are picking on the poor boy who has swine flu on the dumb (dump) site.
I dont recall such a thing, only that it’s highly probable he was hispanic. Didnt see anyone call him illegal either.
Right on Greg! However I would like to comment on the VGLA discussion. As a teacher, I feel that we are turning into China and Europe with this VGLA crap. They only count the top half or third of their test scores. VGLA is in essence doing the same thing-taking the kids that fail and *cheating the system*.
Mark my word, next year, they take the kids that failed this year’s tests and try to pass them through VGLA. Oh the miracles, our test scores will go up….duh.
What a load of crap this is.
Anonymous Teacher, how will all these failing students take VGLA without having an IEP? Will all of these students suddenly be assigned to special ed rosters? Not likely. The VGLA situation is being seriously distorted. Again, I’m the first one to criticize when deserved, this isn’t one of those times.
Since you want us to mark your words, how would we find out if what you are suggesting comes true? Should we all watch for a spike in special ed numbers? What you are suggesting is just not possible, and may I ask what you teach? If I had to guess I would say PE, Art, Music or one of the other subjects that has no involvement with SOLs as even general ed teachers know how VGLA assignment works and that only special ed students are eligible.
I can assure you that I have no desire to fudge numbers or taint appearances.
Please translate:
VGLA
IEP
One other note of explanation before someone hops on the OHI classification out of a lack of understanding, this is not a classification where the district could qualify any child in order to get them into special ed. OHI is for health impairments that do not fall into one of the other categories, I had an OHI student who had a rare disease somewhat like MS that affected his mental functioning. Also severe ADHD is sometimes classified here. It’s also valuable to know that just having a medical condition does not qualify a student for special ed, the student MUST experience effects from the condition that impact academic functioning. The point in the IEP is to address and counteract the academic effects of any disability through planning for accomodations that can help the student increase achievement.
Please translate also:
OHI
OHI= Other Health Impairments, as stated above.
Tillie -
VGLA = Virginia Grade Level Assessment
IEP = Individualized Education Program
Thank you all for the info re the capital letters. Guess I’m out of the educational loop. Now I know.
We can thank Mexico and the invading horde of Illegal Aliens for millions of defaults on Sub-Prime loans that threw the world in an depression.
Thank them for sending millions of Criminals and their uneducated peons to American to prey on its citizens and soak up Billions in Welfare paid for by American tax payers.
Thank them for taking our jobs and driving down our standard of living!
Thank them for the billions in drugs they send across our borders each year!
Thank them for destroying our ER rooms, Schools, Culture, Environment.
Thank them for Killing, Robbing. Raping, & Assaulting 10,s of thousands of Americans each year.
Thank them for bringing their third world diseases, corruption and infecting our Politicians with the same corruption prevalent in their countries! An corruption that makes our Politicians ignore our Constitution against invasion, the rule of Law and their Oath of office!
Thank them for turning the USA into the same type culture they have created, build & sustained for 100,s of years in their own countries an Culture of Crime, Corruption, Poverty, Misery and Cruelly!
Thank them for waving their Mexican flags & Demanding their Rights while telling us what an great country Mexico is and how they will kill all the gringos when they complete the colonization of this Nation!
Now we can thank them for infecting the world with Mexican Swine flu!
The teacher who thinks someone is monitoring the number of VGLAs is just simply wrong. No one is monitoring the number of VGLAs. In fact, the results of the VGLAs are reported as if they are SOLs (the paper will say 95% of the students at ABC School passed the SOLs). Teachers are told they are expected to build WINNING portfolios. This is the biggest fraud and is hurtful to children with disabilities, who are in effect not measured, since their measure is not true. Parents are starting to catch on and report stories, like the mother of a 4th grader who tests extremely low in math on standardized tests, but who scored PASS ADVANCED on the 4th grade VGLA. Or the child with severe dysgraphia who pass the VGLA for writing. Or the mother who viewed her child’s perfolio and saw erasures and full sentences she knew her child couldn’t possibly have written. These students need instruction - they do not need their teachers scrapbooking portfolios to make them look at grade level when they clearly are not.