The Innovative Educator: Parent opts child out of field test and opts into meaningful learning

The Innovative Educator: Parent opts child out of field test and opts into meaningful learning:

Parent opts child out of field test and opts into meaningful learning

by noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Nielsen)

Opt Out of Field Tests

Students across the nation have been unnecessarily subjected to the most expensive and least effective assessments possible over the past few months...standardized tests. While in all cases this resulted in stolen instructional time, in many cases it was even worse and also resulted in students forced to take tests against parental will even if it meant emotional and  physical distress to the child.  


In many states the system isn't done stealing instructional time. They are now going into a round of field testing where they use children as involuntary subjects on which to experiment.  Parents should know that they DO NOT have to do this. They can opt their child out as New York City parent and teacher Veronica Vega is doing.  Below is her opt out letter which can be used as a model for other parents who value student learning.  


Dear Principal,

Please do not allow my child Steven Herrera Jr. in 5th grade to sit for any New York state field test in any