Testing season has started in Florida.
Test scores are used by the privatization industry to seize public schools and punish teachers.
Deny them the data!
Here is a guide written specifically for Florida parents about how to opt out of testing.
Starve the beast!
Opting out against punitive and pointless tests is the most effective way to make your voices heard.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
This is a double-edged sword. If opted out, the district will have no scores for a particular student, so if later you ask for a compressed curriculum, GATE program and such, they may deny it. Sure, they can use regular GPA score and conduct a placement test, but if you anger them by opting out, they will be very uncooperative.
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No double edged sword. Opt out is best answer to tyranny of overused testing
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I’m a retired teacher with 35 years experience teaching all grade levels and several subjects including “gifted” students. Luckily, most of my experience was before high stakes testing destroyed the autonomy of teachers. These state tests are primarily a vehicle for grading and closing some schools, diverting students to privately controlled charter schools, or to private schools through a state voucher system. This practice leads to further economic and racial segregation in our society. The yearly state tests are not indicative of anything except the social class of the parents. To be designated as a “gifted” child, there are a battery of tests and teacher observations which are required so that additional public funding is allocated to that student. Frankly, I would bet that often it is the parents of gifted or high achieving students who see through this farce and choose to have their child “Opt Out” of the yearly standardized state tests. The money and time which has been diverted to the collection of student data is a prime cause of many problems in our public schools. Becoming involved in the “Opt Out” movement is one way that concerned citizens can voice their outrage and help “the system” return to trusting the professionals in the classroom I urge everyone to seek out their state and local Opt Out group and stand up for real public schools before it’s too late. I want to thank all the people around the country who continue their support for this important movement.
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Trudy, excellent.
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“I would bet” means you have no statistics.
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Often, I would bet is more honest than data, which are easily manipulated.
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Thank you for the shout-out Diane.
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