More than 50% of the junior class at Palo Alto High School did not take the Smarter Balanced Assessment. It is hard to know whether the high test refusal at Palo Alto High School was a genuine opt out or just smart kids who knew that the Smarter Balanced Assessment didn’t count for anything. California has a law permitting students to opt out of testing if their parent signs a simple form.
Officials at the school said that next year they hoped everyone would take the test because it will affect the school’s state rating.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Perhaps this a further indication of opt out which is seemingly gathering momentum. Let us hope so.
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Years ago, we would encourage parents of kids in primary grade bilingual programs to opt out because the tests were only in English. With the passing of NCLB that was no longer permitted because it would affect the school rating.
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Great news!!
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It’s not like the Gates’ kids or the Obama kids do their civic duty to take the test. So to the argument that it is a civic duty, we see how that goes.
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While students at Sidwell Friends would likely do well on these tests (if you’re not the child of a president or something like that, you have to go through a serious application process), there would still be many other issues including some test prep and the computer/scheduling annoyances that affect typical schools.
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Elvis joined the army, what happened to civic duty for everyone?
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And Ali refused that supposed “civic duty” of “joining the army”.
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This image is becoming almost the logo of ed reform. I see it again and again and again.
It’s kids sitting in front of a screen taking a test.
It is amazing how often it’s used, especially considering how much really sophisticated marketing (and money) goes into these initiatives.
https://twitter.com/PARCCPlace/status/591368568773672960
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http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/education_commissioner_mitchel_1.html#incart_m-rpt-1
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Gotta love our kids and our grand kids!!
They get it
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Found this on the Ohio DOE:
http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/53dc1f3e-11f1-4093-875c-090e160b187f/Guidance-on-Student-Participation-in-State-Tests.pdf.aspx
2/4/2015
Many districts are receiving communication from families refusing their children’s participation in state tests this spring. The department encourages schools to talk with families about their concerns regarding testing. To help inform this conversation, the department has developed this information for districts and families about student participation in state tests.
The information describes how there is no law that allows a parent or student to opt out of state testing and there is no state test opt-out procedure or form. It also details the consequences for students, teachers and districts when students do not participate in state tests.
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