MEDIA ALERT: Wednesday, April 6, 9:30 AM

Parents to Gather at Senator Cullerton’s Office to Demand Action on Opt Out Bill

Parents demand Senator Cullerton to call standardized testing opt-out bill; stop blocking democracy

Parents from 12 schools in Illinois Senator John Cullerton’s district will come together on Wednesday at 9:30 am at his district office at 1726 W. Belmont Ave, to demand that he remove the brick he’s placed on the state testing opt-out bill, HB306, and allow the bill to be called for a vote.

HB306, which has five Senate sponsors led by Illinois State Senator William Delgado, is currently awaiting assignment to the Illinois Senate Education Committee. This bill would clarify parents’ right to opt their children out of state standardized testing without fear of legal or academic repercussions.

The bill is a response to a massive rise in the number of parents who choose to opt their children out of state testing. Some students who refuse testing face mistreatment—including being forced to sit-and-stare during 8-10 hours of testing without even a book to read. The opt out bill would prohibit mistreatment and punishment of students who opt out.

“Parents deserve a voice in this matter,” said parent Vanessa Caleb Hermann, a mother of two CPS students at Waters and Coonley Elementary Schools. “The burden of opting out should not rest on children as young as or those with special needs.”

HB306 passed the IL House last spring, but has yet to even be assigned to committee. Parents are raising the issue now as bills have until this Friday, April 8th to pass from committees to the Senate floor.

No schools, districts or states have ever lost federal funds due to students opting out of state testing. Six other states already have opt out laws on the books. Last year more than 40,000 Illinois students did not participate in PARCC testing.

“After a massive grassroots effort last year, the voices of regular parents were heard by the Illinois House, and this simple yet critical bill passed,” said Cassie Creswell, organizer with More Than A Score. “It is disappointing that Senator Cullerton is unilaterally blocking this bill from being called for a vote, rather than allowing his colleagues to weigh in on it as their constituents want them to do.”