The Biden Administration’s decision to require the administration of federally mandated standardized exams this year contradicts the judgement of parents, educators, and community leaders. At least 10 states had already prepared test waiver requests, both major teacher unions oppose the exams, and polls showed that a majority of parents wanted tests suspended.
Claiming that assessment without accountability — testing without federal consequences — is some sort of “compromise” is not sufficient. Scores from exams administered during a pandemic are certain to be inaccurate and unfair. Worse, they are still likely to be misused to rate schools and teachers, rather than to help students.
FairTest is already working with families and grassroots groups across the nation to build a large, powerful opt-out movement in Spring 2021: Testing is not teaching.
Why opt out? By opting out, you can….
- Send the message that school time should be used for teaching and learning, not testing and test prep. The average student takes 112 tests between kindergarten and 12th grade, stealing precious time that could be used for in-depth, engaging learning. Schools focus on the demands of the tests, instead of the needs of the students.
- Protest harmful uses of standardized exams.These tests are frequently used in ways that do not reflect the abilities of students of color, English language learners, children with disabilities, and low-income youth. Many others with test anxiety do not test well.
- Demand better ways to assess and promote student learning. Standardized tests measure little of what parents and others want children to learn and experience in schools. They do not measure creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, leadership or empathy. Many schools narrow their focus to the tested subjects of math and reading. Other important subjects are sidelined. Opting out calls for better assessment models. FairTest has fact sheets, a report and other materials on performance assessment and other alternatives.
- Prevent test results from being used to harm students, teachers and schools. Increasingly, test results are used to label schools “underperforming” or “failing.” Many are then shut down or turned over to private operators. Opting out helps block the use of test results as weapons of destruction.
- Protect your child, a teacher, a school or a district from the harm of testing overuse and misuse. One parent opting out can protect her own child from test abuse.Many parents opting out together send a unified message that students’ time should be spent learning, not filling in bubbles on a test sheet. Urban parents can opt out to demand an end to school closures based on test scores and protest how testing fuels the school-to-prison pipeline. Suburban parents can do so to push for better use of classroom time and to show solidarity with urban parents. Students, parents and teachers can unite to stop the malpractice of using student test scores to evaluate educators.
How to Opt Out
- What should parents do to refuse testing for their child? Send the principal a letter saying you don’t want your child to take the tests. It could be as basic as: “I want to let you know we do not want our child, [name], to take part in the [name the standardized exam] this year. Please arrange for [him or her] to have a productive educational experience during the testing period.”Some states or districts have specific forms. Eight states have laws that allow opting out; no states have laws prohibiting it.
Note: The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) recognizes parents’ right to refuse testing in states or districts with opt-out laws. It requires districts to inform parents of state law and policy regarding test participation.It also mandates 95% test participation, but leaves it up to each state to decide what to do if a school or district does not reach 95%. No school or district has ever lost federal funding because of opt outs. Read our “WhyYou Can Boycott Standardized Tests without Fear of Federal Penalties to Your School” fact sheet at Why You Can Boycott Standardized Tests Without Fear of Federal Penalties to Your School (Updated February 2018).
Helpful Opt-Out Resources
- FairTest’s Resistance Guide offers links to a variety of information about other actions you can take to push for less testing, more learning and better assessments. http://www.fairtest.org/get_involved
- FairTest has knowledgeable contacts in most states who can provide valuable local information and advice about opting out. http://www.fairtest.org/get_involved/state_resources
- See thisguide to organizing by Jeanette Deutermann, leader of the hugely successful Long Island Opt Out. http://www.fairtest.org/guide-organizing-jeanette-deutermann
- FairTest follows the growing opt-out and boycott actions. Every week we post a collection of news clips about the national testing resistance and reform movementat http://www.fairtest.org/news/other. You can sign up to get them delivered to your email addressat http://www.fairtest.org/weekly-news-signup.
- See FairTest’s report on implementing performance assessment and other alternatives, at http://www.fairtest.org/assessment-matters-constructing-model-state-system.
- See also FairTest fact sheets on testing, resistance and alternatives, at http://www.fairtest.org/fact%20sheets.
- The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) allows states flexibility in accountability and how they address opting out. See this FairTest report on better and worse state plans, at http://www.fairtest.org/state-ESSA-plans-report-2018.
- Why You Can Boycott Standardized Tests Without Fear of Federal Penalties to Your School (Updated February 2018)
- Federal Law and Regulations on Opting Out Under ESSA (Updated February 2018)
Just Say No to Standardized Tests:
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| Federal_law_related_to_opting_out_-final.pdf | 178.95 KB |
| Just-Say-No-to-the-Test.pdf | 925.26 KB |
As a seasoned education policy expert and advocate for student assessment reform, I bring years of experience and a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding standardized testing and its impact on education. My insights are grounded in a combination of academic research, practical involvement in policy discussions, and collaboration with various stakeholders in the education system.
The article you provided discusses the Biden Administration's decision to mandate federally standardized exams, a move that has sparked controversy among parents, educators, and community leaders. The central argument revolves around the potential negative consequences of administering tests during a pandemic, including the likelihood of inaccurate and unfair scores.
Let's break down the key concepts used in the article:
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Mandated Standardized Exams:
- The article challenges the decision to require standardized exams this year, citing opposition from at least 10 states, major teacher unions, and a majority of parents. This introduces the conflict between federal policy and the preferences of various education stakeholders.
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Assessment without Accountability:
- The article criticizes the idea of assessment without federal consequences, arguing that it is not a sufficient compromise. The concern is that scores from exams during a pandemic might be misused to evaluate schools and teachers rather than helping students.
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FairTest's Opt-Out Movement:
- FairTest is mentioned as an organization working with families and grassroots groups to build an opt-out movement in Spring 2021. The movement aims to convey the message that school time should prioritize teaching and learning over testing and test preparation.
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Reasons to Opt Out:
- The article outlines several reasons to opt out, such as protesting harmful uses of standardized exams, demanding better assessment models, and preventing test results from being used to harm students, teachers, and schools.
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How to Opt Out:
- Practical steps for parents to refuse testing for their child are provided, including sending a letter to the principal expressing the decision not to have their child participate in the standardized exam.
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ESSA and Opting Out:
- The article references the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), recognizing parents' right to refuse testing in states or districts with opt-out laws. It clarifies that while ESSA mandates 95% test participation, no school or district has lost federal funding due to opt-outs.
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Helpful Resources:
- FairTest offers a Resistance Guide with links to various information and actions to advocate for less testing, more learning, and better assessments. The guide includes contacts in most states for local information and advice on opting out.
In summary, the article presents a comprehensive argument against the administration of standardized exams this year, advocates for the opt-out movement, and provides practical guidance for parents considering opting out. The underlying theme is the need for a reevaluation of the role of standardized testing in education, emphasizing a focus on meaningful learning and assessment.
