Momma Bears
  • Blog
  • CHOOSE to REFUSE TESTING (OPT OUT)
    • #ChooseToRefuse
    • How to Refuse
    • Resources
    • For Students
    • Advocate!
    • Memes & Graphics
    • FAQ

Grass Roots Victory Over Testing!!

11/18/2015

 
We will win because the tide is turning as students, teachers, parents, and communities organize to fight high-stakes testing and privatization.—Diane Ravitch

Over 500,000 Students Opted Out of Standardized Testing

The National Center for Fair & Open Testing announced today, "Around the U.S. well over a half million public school students refused to take standardized exams during the 2015 testing season." The full report can be found here. “The opt-out movement and other assessment reform initiatives exploded across the country this year as more parents said ‘enough is enough’ to high-stakes testing overkill,” explained FairTest Executive Director Monty Neill. And FairTest Public Education Director Bob Schaeffer said there is no sign in sight of the grass roots movement slowing down. "In the 2016 testing season, we expect many more families to refuse to take part in unnecessary testing, which undermines educational quality and equity.” 

State Opt-Out Statistics 

FairTest gathered data from various state agencies, news sources and watch dog groups to put together a list of the top states with the largest opt-out figures. Number one on the list for the past two years is New York. Long Island parent organizer Jeanette Deutermann said opting out is a way of being an “upstander,” not a bystander.   
  • New York:             240,000   
  • New Jersey:         110,000+ 
  • Colorado:             100,000  
  • Washington:          50,000+ 
  • Oregon:                  20,000
  • Illinois:                   20,000
  • New Mexico:          10,000

Wait a Minute, Where is Tennessee?????????

So, why is our state not on the opt out list??????

Oh yeah! Remember last Spring when the Tennessee Department of Education said that Tennessee parents can't opt their kids out of standardized testing because they chose to enroll their kids in public school? Christy Ballard, the big-shot state lawyer was pretty clear in her memo that if parents wanted to have control over their child's education, they would have to home school or private school. We could ask State Education Commissioner Candice McQueen if that's true. But what would she know about the rights of public school students? Her kids go to a private Christian school.

Then in the summer, we all found out about the (not-so) quick scores being calculated with a NEW formula and some magical test scores. So, Momma Bear and others called for testing reforms and more transparency. And we wondered if TNDOE would really be Tennessee Ready for these new online assessments?

Turkey Ready Coming Up...

We know your head is probably spinning right now. It's almost Thanksgiving and moms have a lot going on. The only turkey we want to think about is the one that will be served at our Thanksgiving table. But when the holidays are over, you can expect the testing season to be in full swing. And you just might find a turkey of a test this year. It will be much different from TCAPS in the past. 

Time To Test The Test!

For those who live in the Memphis area, there is an opportunity to get a preview of the new Tennessee Ready Test and even take a third grade practice test. But you will need to register quickly. The event is this Saturday at Northaven Elementary School from 9:00am to 1:00pm.  ​​
Picture

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    January 2021
    March 2020
    January 2020
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    Momma Bears

    Just some moms who realize their children's public school systems in TN, as well as public schools across the country, have major threats to their survival.  We research, we write, we share, and we advocate.

    Categories

    All
    ASD
    Barber
    BATs
    Broad
    Candice McQueen
    Chamber Of Commerce
    Charter Corruption Series
    Charter Schools
    Common Core
    Consultants
    Cosmos
    Data
    Data Collection
    Documentary
    Duncan
    Education
    Event
    Faux Parents
    Finland
    Fordham Institute
    Gates
    Governor Haslam
    Governor Haslam
    Grassroots
    Gulen
    Huffman
    Inappropriate-book
    Inappropriate-common-core
    Inc.
    Knox County
    Knoxville
    Legislators
    Legislature
    Liar Liar Pants On Fire Series
    Lobbyists
    Mckinsey
    Nashville
    New Momma Bears
    Opting Out
    Parcc
    Pearson
    Petition
    Poppa Bear
    PR Firm
    Ravitch
    Refusing Tests
    Renaissance Learning
    Rocketship
    RTI2
    School Board
    Score
    SPED
    Student Privacy
    Students
    Studentsfirst
    Survey
    Tcap
    Tea
    Teacher Evaluations
    Teachers
    Teacher Survey
    Tennesseeans For Student Success
    Testing
    Textbooks
    Tndoe
    TNREADY
    TREE
    Treeroots
    Tripod
    TVAAS
    Virus
    Vouchers
    Walton

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photo used under Creative Commons from mrsdkrebs