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More California parents exercise right to skip standardized tests

State launches its newest student testing program

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —California launched its newest student testing program Tuesday.

Superintendent of Instruction Tom Torlakson made the announcement at Sutter Middle School in Sacramento, flanked by several local educators.

Watch report: More California parents exercising right to skip standardized tests

Students in grades 3-8 and high school juniors will take the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress, or CAASPP, exam.

The new-generation computer-based tests will replace the old fill-the-bubble-with-a-No.-2-pencil tests.

The results will not affect grade promotion, Torlakson said.

"Think of it as an academic check-up, designed to give teachers the feedback they need to improve instruction," Torlakson said.

But opponents of the Common Core curriculum on which the CAASPP is based, have organized a national "opt-out" movement. They encourage parents to take a stand against the use of standardized testing as a barometer for performance by not having children participate.

Critics argue standardized testing puts too much pressure on students and teachers and has become the primary focus in the classroom.

Since 1996, California has had a law that allows parents to decline standardized testing for children for any reason.

The numbers show very few parents have exercised this right. However, the recent negative attention toward Common Core may change that.

According to the California Department of Education, fewer than 7,400 parents declined the STAR test (the previous test) in 2013. That's out of the 4.7 million students who took it. Officials said they did not have opt-out numbers for 2014, when the CAASPP was administered on a trial basis.

Twenty-eight students in the Sacramento City Unified School District refused the exam in 2013, district spokesman Gabe Ross said.

The number jumped to 94 during the first year of field testing on the CAASPP.

Ross attributed the increase to the technology change, saying some students at schools that preferred the paper and pencil method chose not to take part.

In the San Juan Unified School District, 97 students opted out in 2013. That number jumped to 238 last year. Spokeswoman Kim Minugh said administrators determined the increase was due to More California parents exercise right to skip standardized tests | Local News - KCRA Home:

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Parents Can Opt Out - United Opt Out National

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California Law Allows Opting out of Tests

The reference is Title 5 of the CaliforniaCode of Regulations, Division 1, Chapter 2, Subchapter 3.75

"Standardized Testing and Reporting Program", Section 852, (a).

Its under "more about STAR" on the SED website.

"A parent or guardian may submit to the school a written request toexcuse his or her child from any or all parts of any test provided

pursuant to Ed Code Section 60640 [a STAR is born}. The parent or guardian must initiate the request and the school district and its

employees shall not solicit or encourage any written request on behalf of any child."

The law is this:

California Education Code Section 60615. "Notwithstanding any provision of law, a parent's or guardian's written request to school

officials to excuse his or her child from any or all parts of the assessments administered pursuant to this chapter shall be granted."

Reports of conversation with Linda Lownes (916-654-5371) in SED who said that districts may inform parents of this right, but they dont have to; that any announcement must be in the same wording to all parents in the district [for equity's sake]; and that the district may not send out a form letter for parents to use. She couldnt give me a reference for this, but instead told me it had been said to administrators at meetings.

Then Les Axelrod (916-657-5198) in the Department, said he was speaking for the Department's lawyer (Carolyn Pirrillo,916-657-2453) and he said the Regulation is what there is; ie, the things said to administrators arent written down anywhere.

So it seems to me that teachers are allowed to inform but not solicit or encourage parents to opt out. It also seems to me that means we need to organize advocates and parents to do the soliciting and encouraging."

[Source: Parents and Kids Against Standardized Testing - Discussion - California]