Many parents in New York have spoken out against the state tests in recent days, and there is much buzz about opting out.
State officials have advised parents to expect a big drop in passing rates. These tests are really hard, they warn. They have even given parents advice about how to calm their students before and after the tests.
My grandson is in first grade in public school in Brooklyn. He is not yet testing bait I hope his parents keep him home on testing day when he reaches third grade. Data feeds the privatization machine.
I supported the teachers at Garfield High in Seattle. I hope that there are entire faculties of teachers not only in New York but across the nation who refuse to give the tests.
Tests don’t teach. Teachers teach.
Tests steal time from instruction.
Teachers should write their own tests to cover what they taught, not what some corporation thinks they should have taught.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
My Grandson’s in 2nd grade in Brooklyn… and my daughter reports that during test week his classes are compromised because the teachers are all focussed on testing— even the ones whose children are NOT being tested… Like many parents in NYC, she’s nervous about opting out for fear it will adversely effect her son’s chances of getting into a magnet school… and don’t get me started on the fact that he had to take a “placement test” before he even started school!
Congrats to parents in our neighboring district Saranac Lake for being brave enough to Opt Out!
https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/page/content.detail/id/536408/Parents-opting-kids-out-of-state—.html
At Ichabod Crane Central School, in Valatie, NY, parents have refused on behalf of at least 1 out of every 6 kids in grades 3 – 8, so far…
I’m out in Jersey!
http://mothercrusader.blogspot.com/2013/04/ive-opted-out-and-you-can-too.html
The problem I am seeing in NYC is that most parents of 3rd through 5th grade are afraid to opt out if the test because supposedly the “best” middle schools in the city require the state tests as part of the application process. Parents of elementary school students are stuck between guarding their child’s privacy or giving them a quality middle school education. It is disgusting!
Kids need stability. NYC schools are stressful for families. A good part of the reason why is that parents care about their children. NYC parents are involved. It appears as though the current system isn’t working for them. Parents play by the rules & they’re not fond the current plan for their children.
I would hope parents of even ‘the best middle schools’ question why schools are collecting information about their children. I didn’t let them test my kids for kindergarten in late 1980s-90.
I told them if they didn’t seem prepared to let me know. And I also asked them to let me know when my child was having or creating a problem in the classroom. Let’s just say we conversed over the years. : )
Take the risk of opt-ing out if you are concerned about some of the information collected about your child related to the test. If it’s information that you think wouldn’t be harmful if misused, take the test.
Parents shouldn’t have to worry about these things but that’s their job. To care about their children.
Part 2 of today’s NYS tests were absolutely horrendous. asking kids to read 3 passages answer many multiple choice questions then having them read 2 more and then write an essay is abuse. There was not enough time . It was the equivalent of a sweatshop, my kids were working so hard trying to complete the crap.
The multiple choice consisted of a paragraph scavenger hunt, finding the best paragraph for this or that. Real garbage, gotcha type questions. As far as I’m concerned King and his cohorts have no clue what they are doing and should be held liable for the damage they have done.