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> ====== From Terry Burton: ====== > > ====== I wrote New York State Ed about the legality of parents opting out in NYS. Here is their response... ====== > > ====== Good Morning, Mr. Burton, ====== > > ====== Thank you for writing to the assessment Policy, Development and Administration Office. All children in public schools must take all State assessments administered at their grade levels to meet accountability an...d No Child Left Behind standards. Parents may not opt their child out of testing due to religious or moral reasons if their child attends a public school. I hope you find this information helpful. If our office can be of any further assistance to you,please feel free to contact us at this e-mail address. ====== > > ====== Sincerely, ====== > > ====== Eileen Becker ====== > about 5 months ago  · [|Report] > ====== But the student can opt him- or herself out (which my daughter did this week and last for both the 8th grade ELA and math exams) as there is a box on the exam booklet which says "Student refused to take exam" (or something to that effect). Obviously, this is more difficult as the student needs to advocate for him- or herself and not be bullied into compliance--not an easy thing, particularly for younger children. My daughter wrote "I prefer not to take your test" on the answer booklets, as suggested by The Bartleby Project (look on YouTube). ====== about 4 months ago  · [|Report] > ====== Yay to you Marion!!! Boo to that condescending note from State Ed. I would ask her to provide a citation of a law. What happens after your child refuses? Can /will they hold her back? ====== about 3 months ago  · [|Delete Post] > ====== I had called the DoE and got the same thing from them (that students *must* take the exam). The reaction of the school was interesting. (I live in a middle/upper middle class suburb on Long Island.) They were actually very nice and did not try to bully her about her decision. And it wasn't totally out of left field for everyone as I had had a round of emails back & forth with the ELA teacher a couple of months ago when the serious test prep began ("Is this what you are planning to do for the rest of the year?" and so on.) However, most of the others (guidance, assistant principal, etc.) were surprised and said that no one (at the school) had ever refused before. My daughter is in the National Junior Honor Society so it will be interesting if they try to hold her back (which I do not forsee) and which no one has hinted at. After all, she has very good grades overall--do the evaluations of her teachers mean nothing? Is the state prepared to simply be vindictive? I don't think my daughter's one "no show" will impact the district so I don't think they will do anything. But it would be interesting if her action this year sparked a trend. She is strongly opinionated but also embarassed to talk about it. ====== > > ====== My daughter also refused the Social Studies test in 5th grade. At that time I wrote a one line letter addressed to the teacher which said that my daughter had my permission not to write the test and that if there was a problem they should call me (which they did..) The A.P. at that school tried to bully us by saying that "it would go on her record, blah blah blah" but my husband answered the phone and he said "So what?--She's in *5th* grade!) I also had pulled her out of school in 4th grade and homeschooled that year because she was so uptight from all the pressure over grades and about getting the right answer. In retrospect, it was a very good decision. So, all in all, I'm basically a pain in the neck. (I am also almost done becoming certified to teach math (!), so when they try to throw the edujargon at me, I throw it right back; and p.s. I am pretty well versed in what the laws require...) ====== > about 3 months ago  · [|Report] > ====== Marion, ====== > > ====== Is there an actual law that says students must comply? This is what I don't get. If it is not in the student's best interest how can they be forced by the state to do something the child and parent deem harmful? I wish your daughter wasn't embarrassed to talk about it. Schools yield the compliance sword so that those who have their own thoughts are made to feel uncomfortable. I hope you start a trend!!! How can I help? ====== about 3 months ago  · [|Delete Post] > ====== Btw...Marion, ====== > > ====== Are you in Nassau or Suffolk? I just delivered a keynote in Nassau last week. This wasn't my topic, but maybe it will be next time ;-) ====== > about 3 months ago  · [|Delete Post] > ====== how do i find out the rules behind this. i wish to opt my 7 year old in a CTT class out of standardize testing. 2nd grade and their entire focus is preparing them for standardize testing in the 3rd grade. he should be simply learning and testing on his class academics not dedicating 70% of the school day on prepping for testing next year. i want to know how to stop it now. ====== about 3 months ago  · [|Report] > ====== Thank you for the information. I was about to call the school district, but looks like I will not get the answer I was hoping for. ====== about 3 months ago  · [|Report] > ====== Here's what I found on nysed.gov: ====== > ====== @http://www.p12.nysed.gov/part100/pages/topics.html ====== > > ====== Go to #2 on program and assessment requirements, and then to the grade range you're interested in. ====== > > ====== For example, for grades 1-4: ====== > ====== 2. i. Except as otherwise provided in subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph, at the specified grade level, all students shall take the following tests, provided that testing accommodations may be used as provided for in section 100.2(g) of this Part in accordance with department policy: ====== > > ====== Probably this is defined further in the state register, here: ====== > ====== @http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register.htm ====== > about a week ago  · [|Report] > ====== Have any of you tried contacting your State Assembly person or State Senator who could research it, and who would either support legislation to add an opt-out, or in some way give sensible input to public discussion about standardized testing? ====== > > ====== Unfortunately, both my State Assemblyman and State Senator are more interested in attacking teachers as public employees, than they would be in how this is affecting students, and test scores are a convenient way to do that. ====== > about a week ago  · [|Report]
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