Opt Out Of PARCC Testing ??

Public schools in New Jersey will begin administering new state tests in March. But not every eligible child may take them.

A vocal movement of parents and special interest groups across the state has been urging parents to refuse to have their children take the new PARCC test, even though state and federal law requires annual testing.

“There is just a lot of information that is not clear,” said Bob Dailyda, of Egg Harbor Township, who has two children in high school scheduled to take the new tests this year.

School officials are now in the somewhat awkward position of having to decide what to tell parents who ask about opting out, and what to do with children who refuse to take the test.

Galloway Township school Superintendent Annette Giaquinto, president of the Atlantic County Association of School Administrators, wrote in an email that school officials have discussed and researched the opt-out issue. She said since there is no opt-out provision in the law, they will explain that to parents who ask.

But that may not prevent parents from notifying a district that their child will not take the new PARCC test.

A majority of local districts surveyed have decided that a child who refuses to take the test will remain in the testing room.

Parents have criticized the so-called “sit and stare” decision as punishment and even inhumane. It was ridiculed at a state Assembly Education Committee meeting last week during which a bill that would allow parents to opt out starting next year was discussed.

Some district officials said they will allow a nontesting child to read quietly in the room while others take the test.

A state Department of Education official confirmed Friday that a child not taking the test could be allowed to read in the classroom. But decisions regarding the treatment of children who have opted out is a local decision.

As the issue has become more public, some districts have said they will allow opted out children whose parents notify them in advance to be sent to another location during the test, such as the school library, and be given work to do.

John DiNicola, superintendent in Margate, wrote in an email that, to avoid distractions to students taking the test, students whose parents have notified the school of their intention not to take it will be reassigned to the media center.

“Our main concern is for the test takers,” he said.

Officials in Atlantic City, Mullica Township, Estell Manor and West Cape May also said they will provide an alternative location for those who notify them in advance.

.Entire article at
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/education/schools-develop-policies-for-those-who-don-t-take-parcc/article_88838e06-b488-11e4-9cf7-7fa4bb2b69fb.html

Letter to Shore News  - You have the right to refuse PARCC testing
http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/regional/opinion/62084-letter-you-have-the-right-to-refuse-standardized-tests.html