An increasing number of kids are staying home from school on days of standardized tests. Elementary students – not high school students whose post high school careers depend on the testing – across the nation are jumping on the band wagon to refuse the tests.
The Associated Press reports that parents have several reasons to have their children stay home and opt out of the tests, including the opinion that the tests are simply used as a evaluation of teacher performance and the belief that giving standardized tests narrows the curriculum and decreases learning for knowledge.
"I'm opposed to these tests because they narrow what education is supposed to be about and they lower kids' horizons," said Jesse Hagopian, a teacher at the Seattle school, according to KOMO News. "I think collaboration, imagination, critical thinking skills are all left off these tests and can't be assessed by circling in A, B, C or D."
Teachers, students and parents teamed together at one high school in Seattle to refuse to administer and take a standardized test. As a result, the superintendent decided to make the tests optional.
The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, however, said other standardized tests are not optional. Ninety-five percent of students must participate in the tests or the school will lose funding, as defined in No Child Left Behind. Kristen Jaudon, spokeswoman for the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, said, "We are bound by state law to test kids in our state. It's not optional.”
Cherry Creek School District in Centennial, Colorado spokeswoman Tustin Amole said, "We encourage parents to have their kids take the test, but there are no consequences of any kind. There's no formal process for opting out. They can keep their child home that day and write an excuse."
Several educators see this as a serious issue. Michael Yaple of the New Jersey Department of Education said, "Keeping a child home from testing does no favor to the child or the school.”
Although there are currently no consequences for skipping a standardized test, that could soon change. Parent involvement and revolting against the tests may also increase along with stricter enforcement of the testing.
Teacher Peggy Robertson from Centennial said of the growing movement, "You can feel the momentum. I think we're headed for a full-on revolt next year."