Opting Out of Standardized Tests and NCLB

I think to me the bigger issue is why are parents opting out? Standardized tests have been the thing since I was a child and I am old. They were always stressful, not much fun, but other than bragging rights didn't mean much. You can't even claim colleges would look bad on those tests, if you don't take them they will just assume you did so because you would do bad.

So why?

I didn't even know you could opt out of them so I guess I am shocked that a parent has any legal right to opt out in the first place. You want your kid to go to a public school and all that entails, it entails standardized tests.

It is true that I do not always agree with how states, school districts, politicians, etc. use the results of standardized tests. The results are too often used as a way to justify funding and teacher's jobs when most of us realize that standardized tests show you a piece of the picture and not the whole picture.

However ...

As far as the student is concerned, standardized tests are kind of annoying and kind of a pain in the butt, but that's about it. They don't count for a grade. There's no penalty for failing (or not doing well). There isn't even a reward for excelling. It's just walk in, take the test, congrats you're done.

There is a tremendous long-term benefit for students taking these standardized tests. It really should give them lots of practice at taking these kinds of tests so that when they have to take the ACT or SAT or a placement test or any other standardized test they will be much more likely to be relaxed and not too concerned and just do their best. It's so unfortunate when students arrive for the ACT and are just an absolute mess and convinced that it's a "do or die" situation.

The whole point of the standardized tests was originally and really should be today a way for teachers to get an good idea of how well their students are learning so that they can make adjustments in the curriculum and in their teaching in order for the students to learn better. The reason these tests were originally called "Student Assessment" is because they were designed simply to assess the students and see how they are doing. No blame intended. Just a way to measure. Just as in any other area of society, it is beneficial to stop, take a look at things and assess how everyone is doing and how things are going to see if there are ways to improve.

Whether you agree with standardized testing or not, I think it really is in the best interest of any student to just let them take the test with the rest of their class.

I think it's a good thing to see where our education overall, across the USA, falls. If we have one state that is educating it's students a year ahead of every one else then another state where the kids are a year behind...that makes so much sense to me to have some standard appropriate level tests that every student the same age and grade take then compare their scores.

I would not want to be in a rural area and think my child is getting a better education than a full city school that has no one on one time during the day due to so many taking all the time just to find out since they are in a rural area they don't have to be at a certain standard.

So I do think that a standardized testing system will help bring all levels of education to the same area. Some classes will always be ahead of other classes though. That just has to happen.

In my town if a parent home-schools a child, doesn't participate in the testing and stuff, and they want to play football, play violin, etc..they have to pay hundreds of dollars to the school before they can participate. Each student that does the things they are supposed to do brings money into the district. Once that student stops confirming that district is losing money.

I've never heard of this and I'm a public school teacher, albeit in MD not PA.
In my district, it is difficult for parents to opt their kids out of testing because the tests are administered within a two week window for elementary and middle (high schools exams run two weeks 3 times a year last I checked). If your kid is absent on the day of a particular test, it is simply given on a makeup day in that window. A parent would have to keep his/her child out of school for two weeks.
The bigger picture for me is how the community is impacted as a whole when families opt out. Low participation rates, low scores and failure to make adequate yearly progress can result in corrective measures that include the reallocation of staff and resources within the district. When this is due to real problems with the education provided at the school, that is one thing. It is entirely another when it is due to parents and students not taking the test seriously.
The new tests, related to Common Core, are coming. They are more challenging and a better test of what students have mastered. They are also facing even more parent opposition. I suspect that we will see a flurry of legislation to address families who opt out.

Since you can't find anything online I would simply call the school (or district office) tomorrow and ask. It sounds like an empty threat.
I don't like standardized tests either but there are many things in life and formal education that I don't like. I'm just glad that my kids live in a world where schools and parents are at least TRYING to do what's best for our kids.
When I was a kid (hardly) no one cared if you were struggling in class or with friends, were being bullied or teased, had learning issues or anything else. It was pretty much suck up and shut up, and if you weren't learning it's because you weren't trying, or you just weren't smart.
My first grade teacher's favorite way of getting kids' attention was to pinch them hard, on the arm. Yep, it worked (short term at least) but it's not something I want to see come back into practice.
I think parents today forget just how far we've come in a relatively short period of time.

I've never heard that, but I would just about bet that if it is true, it's a District regulation/policy and not the "law."

In our schools here, the tests are administered for only part of the day for two weeks. A parent that refuses to allow their child to take part in the testing would also be forcing their child to miss actual schooling that occurs during the rest of the school day. That child would fall behind almost right away even if those two weeks were the only time that the child missed. That puts an undue burden on the teachers AND the children missing class. Honestly, the parents end up screwing the pooch.