Do you opt your children out of standardized testing (if you can)

[bluestateguy]

When we have kids in a few years, we will likely opt them out of standardized testing. Instead, I imagine myself taking them to a museum, or the zoo on testing day. Something educational.

I do not wish to validate Common Core, the fanatical testing regime and the undermining of our teachers by having my child take those tests.

[seabeyond]

1. no. the test were not a big deal for my boys. i further told them, they had a

responsibility to pull the best grade to off set the kids that did not do so well. we are well aware of the issues with them. but mostly, i support the teachers. cause they are the ones really being screwed. my kids could handle it. i did not feel the classes where taking from their education to teach to the test.

[yeoman6987]

2. I took Iowa Basics for years in grade school and still don't know what it did for me

I mean we did get scores but so what? So I ended up last out of millions taking it. Being last or first means nothing with these tests.

[procon]

3. I've never understood the Common Core controversy.

Right now every state sets their own standard common education standards, but there is no nationwide set to follow. It's a total mishmash with some states strive for higher goals, while others lower the bar to hide the failure of the educational program, so an "A" grade in one state is maybe the equivalent to a "C" grade in another state.

We have states that indoctrinate students with one theological view in place of hardcore sciences, or replace history with political fiction, or substitute religious taboos for sex education classes. Having the same standards in medicine, govt, or business is taken for granted, so why is it only bad for education?

I'd want my kids to get a good education and earn a legitimate grade commensurate with their ability and efforts to learn, even if they change schools or move to a different state. If they are cheated out of a top notch education, how can kids compete for jobs or get into colleges?

Right now, if I was an employer who needed an educated workforce, I'd have to seriously look at which state the job applicants graduated from.

[liberal_at_heart]

7. I can tell you first hand what the controversy is. Not every child learns at the same rate and

some children learn differently. Others still have learning disabilities like my son. Yet, they treat EVERY single child as if they were the same child, like a robot. My autistic son who is in special education is expected to learn everything that his general education peers are learning and at the same pace. He struggles with this. In fact, when he started middle school he was at a 3rd/4th grade math comprehension level. Because of Common Core every single student at that school had to take 6th grade algebra math no matter their comprehension level, and even though he was not learning the material they passed him anyway. They did this all through middle school. His freshman year of high school we moved to a different school district and they did an evaluation to see where he was on math comprehension. They had to go back and teach him multiplication and division because he did not know how to do multiplication and division and he certainly didn't know algebra. Because this school cared about what he actually knew and they made sure he had a comprehension of the math before they moved him forward, he is now in algebra in his sophomore year and he is understanding it. That is the problem with Common Core.

[fizzgig]

4. i graduated long before the glut of standardized testing began

only took the iowa test of basic skills every couple of years and then the sat my junior year. i don't have kids, but i would likely opt them out as i see no point in over-testing them and teaching to the test rather than providing a good education.

i got a fairly good education (except for history) but i supervise a number of high school students and recent grads and i am horrified by the fact they can't spell, suck at written communication and critical thinking, have no idea when it comes to american geography and are completely ignorant of civics.

we are failing this generation.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

5. Common Core and testing do not necessarily go hand in hand.

You could possibly follow Common Core standards (though some are absolutely not age appropriate) without the endless testing. Definitely boycott the test. I taught a family of kids who went camping each year during the tests. Those kids certainly learned more in a less stressful and boring environment. School is not healthy for children and other living things

[Laffy Kat]

6. My kids WANTED to take the tests.

I am so against them and know they do zilch to help educate the children. My boys, however, like them because they got extra snacks and no homework for the week. Whatever. I told them to not to worry about scores and just get through them. I would have opted out in a heartbeat.

[FLPanhandle]

8. Nope

Good indicators of areas that they may be weak in.

[liberal_at_heart]

9. I guess I'm a bit of a chicken. Our state requires these tests or the kids don't graduate.

We're being held hostage. This is a wedge issue for me though. If a Democratic candidate votes for Common Core or for tying state standardized testing to teacher evaluation, I do not vote for them. That is how I make my voice heard.