Long Island School Districts Want to Punish OPT-OUT-From-Testing Kids.

[Smarmie Doofus]

Apparently, they're going to make them "sit and stare" while the other kids take the full battery of standardized tests. As opposed to giving them an alternate activity.

Sounds peevish, vindictive and juvenile? It is. But welcome to the world of education "reform."


>>>ALBANY, N.Y. Feb. 3, 2014 - New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi today called on school districts to abandon educationally unsound and unconscionable policies that force students whose parents have decided to opt them out of state testing to "sit and stare" instead of providing them with a constructive alternative.

At least 15 school districts on Long Island - and, reportedly, others statewide - have recently adopted or are considering such damaging policies ahead of April's state standardized testing in English Language Arts and math, Iannuzzi said.

"NYSUT strongly condemns the policy of 'sit and stare'," Iannuzzi said. "This policy aimed at students whose parents elect to 'opt out' their children from state standardized testing is unconscionable. It would be spiteful and counter-productive for any school district to require an administrator or teacher to direct a child to 'sit and stare' at a blank desk while other students are taking exams because of a choice made by a parent."

Iannuzzi added, "This is cruel to those students not taking the exam and a distraction and disservice to those who are attempting to complete it. Punishing or embarrassing children because their parents exercised their right to choose not to have their children participate in tests they consider inappropriate is, frankly, abusive.">>>>

http://www.nysut.org/news/2014/february/nysut-strongly-condemns-sit-and-stare-policies

[jsr]

1. Pearson Education must not be disobeyed.

[TBF]

2. Pearson (headquartered in London) has made over a billion

on Texas standardized tests.

Every parent in that school ought to say "fine, I'll home school" and make it happen. Public schools get their funding from attendance. No more attendance, no more $$$.

[exboyfil]

3. At one point I thought about

having my kids sandbag because I did not like what the administration was up to. They have skipped some standardized tests over the years (probably should have been more).

[vinny9698]

4. There has to be a detterent or all the kids will pressure their parents to opt out.

How many people really want to take a test? Not very many. If they showed movies or some other form of entertainment than most students will opt out. It is the American way. Property values, salaries, bonuses, school recognition, are all on the line. One elementary school missed out on being exemplary by one student's math score by half a point. HURT.

[Smarmie Doofus]

6. Parents opt the kids out; kids don't opt themselves out.

So I don't think its a question of "They'd rather watch a movie."

That ought not to be an option. It's a school. There should be something educational going on.

[Downwinder]

5. Piss them off enough and they will get some scores they won't like.

[CoffeeCat]

7. It would cost us $40,000 to opt out of standardized tests

I'm not exaggerating.

If my kids skipped the standardized tests, it would cost our family $40,000.

Here is why.

Those tests are used as a sole determinant in placing kids in classes. This practice begins in 6th grade.

So, if you want your kids in Honors-level courses--they need to score 93 percent or above on those standardized tests. Why are Honors-level courses important? Because if your kids are taking Honors-level classes--they can then qualify during their senior and junior years--to take classes at a local community college--for FREE. While our kids are attending high school, they can receive college credits for classes.

Many kids graduate high school with a year's worth of college credits under their belt. Some accrue three semesters worth of credits.

The price of admission--YOU must take those standardized tests, or they are not allowed to take any of those college-level classes. PERIOD.

One of my girls is in Honors-level courses; the other hopes to be able to. We figure that, if they continue to progress, they will each accrue about a year's worth of college credits. They'll enter college as sophomores, which will allow them to graduate college in three years. $20k per year for them to live away from home and attend college, so that's about $40,000 that our family saves.

So. We opt to take the tests. I don't like it. I don't think the tests should be used to place kids in Honors classes--other factors should determine placement. I also don't like the fact that you cannot participate in the community-college classes unless you have taken the standardized tests.

They basically bribe us to take those tests!