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?
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.
