This roving opt-out billboard can be seen driving around New York. If you see it, give a honk of support. The truck and billboard are sponsored by New York State Allies for Public Education, a coalition of 50 parent and educator groups. NYSAPE led the historic opt out movement last spring, which persuaded the families of some 220,000 or more students to opt out of the state tests. State officials were stunned. Governor Cuomo created a task force to help him get out of the mess, which caused his poll numbers to plummet. The state Board of Regents split over the issues of high-stakes testing, and the chancellor of the Regents announced her resignation. A supporter of the parents who opted out is likely to be chosen as the new chancellor in a few days.
Parents will opt out again in 2016 because despite the stunned reaction of public officials, very little has changed. The testing goes on. The absence of useful information continues. The tests are still too long. And NYSAPE’s truck is rolling again.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Wish this truck traveled America to all the public elementary through high schools around this nation!!! I do not really understand how it is possible that some regions claim that the written laws prevent parents from “opting out” their children with regard to these tests? Would that really hold up in court?
Meanwhile, sad to say, the National AssocItion of Secondary School Principals has a statement of opposition to opt outs, due for formal adoption in November. EdWeek reports that the Association will solicit public comment before the formal adoption. I hope some people can find out more about the timing and path to public comment. The group seems to think that schools get “a lot of information” from the test results, and opt outs will ” alter the results.”
And I’m presuming that “how to shut down Opt Out” is now a big talking point at the administrative “training” programs taking over our district…
With authorization of ESSA, I thought districts have to let parents know of their right to refuse? Did I misunderstand this?
ESSA has not gone into effect yet.
Beware the false claim by the NYT and other media outlets that “the moratorium has put an end to using test scores in teacher evaluations”. This root of all evil is still alive and well in New York State. Every teacher will continue to be evaluated using test scores. Regents tests, state science tests, and “local” exams. The moratorium only covers the Pearson, grades 3 to 8, math and ELA exams. Even more reason to boycott the exams. The 2016 scores will be, in the words of Governor Cuomo, more “meaningless” than ever. And now that the tests will be “un-timed” – they will waste more time than ever.
This should be done nation wide.
I was thrilled to see a woman on our local news leading a local Opt Out group here in northwest Florida, in the heart of heart of the military, Bible belt. This woman discussed the uselessness of over testing and urged other parents to opt their children out. This is significant because this area represents the heart of “authoritarian personality” syndrome where they prepare their young for generations to make the ultimate sacrifice for God and country. I hope concerned parents join her and spread the message against big data that is robbing students of a comprehensive education.
Fantastic idea! Please, keep up the hard work!
Can we borrow it in Illinois?
No–we need to get our own!! Let’s start a people-funding type campaign (like Bernie’s). A little money from a million people would buy us a bus! (You know, like “Nuns on the Bus” or the National Nurses’ Assn. Bernie Bus). How about it, OptOutChicago & IllinoisParkthePARCC?