Opting Out of State Testing

In my SD and some neighboring districts There is currently a ton of discussion about opting out (refusing) of the state Math and ELA testing for our 3rd -8th grade students. There have been discussions at PTA meetings, ongoing Facebook discussions, Facebook Group (LI OptOut) have formed.

I'm curious as to how wide spread these discussions are on LI. Is this subject being discussed within your SD? Is this something you have been thinking about /researching?

Opting Out of State Testing

I teach and haven't heard anything about this. My daughters are 4 and I already get anxiety for them over the testing and the new common core standards which I believe is going to cause a larger learning gap. I feel some skills the children are not developmentally ready for. They shouldn't be forced to read 6th grade passages in 5th or 4th grade. I believe that the 5th and 4th grade reading passages on the state test can go up to 6th grade. After I read your post I found his site
http://www.nystoptesting.com/?m=1

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I haven't heard of this but, this is very interesting to me! My oldest is only in K so I am a long way off from this but, from everything I have been hearing from friends and family members that are teachers or have elementary aged children - there is nothing productive about these tests at all! It seems the numbers from these tests are all anyone cares about and now everything is geared toward this. Kids are even taking prep courses in 3rd grade around here to prepare for them. What happened to learning for the sake of learning? Makes private school look more and more appealing...

Message edited 3/30/2013 11:32:20 AM.

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I plan to have my child opt out of testing. It's appalling how everything they teach is preparation for the tests. Here is an interesting website with a lot of info:

Children Should Not Be a Number

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I would speak to your district's admin about how they will treat a child who opts out. Unfortunately, without data next to your child's name, there will probably be consequences.

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Opting Out of State Testing

Haven't kids been taking these tests for decades? I remember taking them when I was in school. I honestly don't see what the big deal is. We were always taught for the test because it showed what was suppose to be learned by a certain grade level. I would be more concerned about the APPR that the poor teachers have to deal with. The paperwork alone and the unnecessary testing because of that takes away from valuable teaching time.

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The opt out movement is not really about "the test. For our family it's a protest about what is happening to our children's overall education. There is so much emphasis on math and ELA that little else is being taught.

I have a 4th grader, he comes home with math and ELA homework every night - I have no problem with that. I do have a problem with the entire class receiving ELA assignments that are on a 7th grade reading level. I have a huge problem with the lack of creative writing he is assigned (1 40min session per 6 day cycle) and the lack of Science and Social Studies assignments. I am in a great district and he has a really good teacher. She has managed to fit some fun Science and SS assignments in but not to the extent that she would like - because we have to follow the Common Core. I'm very unhappy with The direction NYSDE has us are moving in. I feel like my child and his peers are missing out on a lot.

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Message edited 3/31/2013 10:27:52 PM.

Opting Out of State Testing

I wish all parents would do this. Then maybe the city, state, and federal government would take a long hard look at what we are doing to the well-rounded education of our students.

I'm a teacher, and I will say it now--school is boring these days. No, wait, it sucks. It's all testing, testing, testing. There is no joy in school anymore.

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funny you mentioned this. I just spoke to a mom of my son's friends (they are in kindergarten). She is a 2nd grade teacher at the school that he (and her DS) will attend. I asked her about her opinion on the new core and she said that for the kids who started K this year (and each year from now on), it shouldn't be as bad b/c they will only be learning that way from the beginning so it will be the only way they know. The kids who are already in 1st grade and up have to now modify what they already had learned so it's harder for them as it's new wording, more work is expected, etc. On that note she did say she would be opting out for her DS's when it came time for testing. I didn't even know that was an option! I also wondered about the consequences and will prob look into it when my DS gets into the higher grades
*I don't live on LI but I am in NY.

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I am a teacher, I have heard about it until I heard when you opt your child out from testing, the schools lose funding for your child. Who has to make up that funding, the tax payers. There are also other ramifications please think long and hard about it. Believe me I HATE all this testing. I don't believe it and I think it's making our educational system worse. Before you 999 your children call the state dept of Ed and find out what happens, and what ramifications there are.

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The one link states that these tests do not count to your child's average in some cases this is false! Please know what your district counts.

Opting Out of State Testing

From what I understand, the number of children testing will not effect a schools state aid for the next three years. This is a trial period. The smaller bucket of aid, Title1 or Race to the Top money I'm unclear about, but many LI districts do not receive any of this money anyway. My district is one that does not receive it.

How could these test count in your child's average? I know every district is different but we don't even get numerical grades in elementary school.

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Opting Out of State Testing

In elementary school they do not count in average. The results are not in until mid June and I think they aren't even official until the summer. Although my old school would look at the unofficial and if students were 1s on the unofficial they would go to summer school. C

Opting Out of State Testing

My assessment is given in June and we use it in place of our final. Until the SS test was done away with it counted as 50% of their final. ( I am talking on the middle school level)

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My son is only in kindergarten but I do think depending on what happens 2 yrs from now plan to opt out of testing based on what I have read so far . I am sickened at what our schools have become and I do think we need to take a stand as parents. The time WASTED prepping for these tests is a disgrace.

I don't know anything about the schools losing funding, but lets say the parents all took a stand and by a miracle 75% of students opted out. Would the state REALLY cut the funding for all 75% of those students? The school would then not be able to function or open? What then? Either someone takes notice or they have to take a stand and do something else.... I mean I think something drastic is needed at this point to change things.

I reserve the right to change my mind but I am supporting those right now who opt out till I see that the consequences are worse then that of the testing.