‘Parent trigger’ campaigns can continue despite lack of new test scores
While California’s testing and accountability system is in flux, parents are allowed to attempt to force major changes at schools considered failing based on tests that are at least two years old and that measure material that’s no longer being taught.
A judge’s ruling earlier this month in an Anaheim case indicated that parent groups can continue with so-called “parent trigger” campaigns to transform schools that are low-performing, even though recent test scores are unavailable.
“The crux of this ruling is quite empowering for every parent in California,” said Ben Austin, the former executive director of Parent Revolution, who is now with the nonprofit Students Matter.
Under the Parent Empowerment Act of 2010, also known as the “parent trigger law,” parents can prompt changes at their schools, including replacing principals or turning schools into charters, if the schools fail to meet test-score goals. But California is in the middle of moving to a new testing system and produced its last standardized scores in 2013.
In Anaheim, Palm Lane Elementary School, which sits about a mile and a half from Disneyland, is proceeding with plans to convert into a charter in 2016, said Gloria Romero, the former state senator who co-authored the law and who now runs the California Center for Parent Empowerment. She helped lead the Anaheim parents. Parents complained about the removal of a principal, who they claimed was improving the school, and school administrators’ failure to address their education concerns.
Anaheim City School District officials argued in the Orange County Superior Court case that parents were ineligible to use the “parent trigger law” because no test scores were available from 2014 – the year when parents started collecting signatures for the transformation of Palm Lane Elementary School. Both sides filed legal complaints in April.
Judge Andrew Banks sided with the parents because the California Department of Education had frozen test scores, called adequate yearly progress, or AYP, so that 2013 results could count for 2014.
“The evidence clearly establishes that Palm Lane failed to make adequate yearly progress,” Banks wrote in the July 16 ruling, clarifying that the 2013 scores count.
Superintendent Linda Wagner said the district filed the suit to clarify the law because of the lack of recent test scores. She said the law creates “ambiguities” for school boards that need legislative attention.
“We hope that the courts and the Legislature will provide the much-needed clarification and guidance to school districts throughout California on these challenging issues,” Wagner said in a statement the day after the ruling.
The district board is appealing the ruling – a decision backed by the California Teachers Association, a longtime opponent of the “parent trigger law.” Mike Myslinski, a spokesman for the teachers union with 325,000 members, said the law is disruptive, divisive and does not guarantee better learning.
“We also agree with the school district that it makes no sense to allow outdated student testing data to be used to disrupt the future of a school, as was done with Palm Lane,” said Myslinski in an email.
Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff, R-San Dimas, who co-authored the law, said he is asking what can be done to keep the “parent trigger” ‘Parent trigger’ campaigns can continue despite lack of new test scores | EdSource:
