PARCC TEST OPT OUT POLICY CONSIDERED BY SCHOOL BOARD

A resolution that would allow parents to opt their children out of standardized tests, particularly the controversial multi-week PARCC test, received a vigorous debate at Monday night's Board of Education meeting as students and board members offered differing views on the issue.

In the end, the resolution, found HERE, was introduced, but no action was taken. It will be up for a second reading at the next board meeting later his month.

District officials said students who stayed home from the test under current policy would be considered absent from school with no valid excuse. They also said state policy requires a 95% participation rate in the test for each district by law.

Some offered concerns about the preparation for the state assessment taking students away from necessary learning.

"We've not stopped doing everything else," said Acting Superintendent James Memoli. "I agree we have to look at our whole assessment program throughout the district."

The board, meanwhile, disagreed on whether to allow the opt out.

"The testing is important, it is a new year, a transition year, we the adults can do a lot to ease the stress," said Board Member Beth Daugherty. "We've already said publicly there will be no academic placement based on the PARCC outcomes."

Board Member Stephanie Lawson-Muhammad also offered support for the test and against the opt-out policy.

"I have a concern with putting a policy in place at this time," she said. "We would be putting a policy in place saying it is alright to opt out of standardized tests, why would we do that?"

But Board Member Johanna Wright disagreed, saying, "every parent has a right to make decisions where their children are concerned...I would err on the side of the parents."

Board President Wayne Eastman declined to comment on the issue, saying he would wait for the next reading later this month.

"I don't understand a lot about PARC, I don't understand a lot about it. There is no doubt that students are worried about the test .. I do wonder how this test will affect students," said Maggie Kritzberg, the board's student representative. "We have to take into account are we going to be able to have an equitable fair judgement of our students if some take it and some don't? It is unclear." 

Another student also spoke up during the public comment portion. See his views below: