Opting out of PARCC testing in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You really should google the genesis of this test and who was involved in putting it and common core together. The ONE -- yes, ONE -- mathematician who was involved DID NOT sign off on the final product.

Where did you find this information? Do you have a link to an article?

James Milgram is a professor emeritus of mathematics at Stanford University. He served on the validation committee for the Common Core mathematics. He did not agree to approve the standards.
http://dianeravitch.net/2013/09/11/james-milgram-on-the-common-core-math-standards/


http://parentsacrossamerica.org/james-milgram-on-the-new-core-curriculum-standards-in-math/

"My Qualifications. I was one of the national reviewers of both the first and second drafts of the new TX math standards. I was also one of the 25 members of the CCSSO/NGA Validation Committee, and the only content expert in mathematics.
...
As a result, there are a number of extremely serious failings in Core Standards that make it premature for any state with serious hopes for improving the quality of the mathematical education of their children to adopt them.
...
Core Standards – in large measure a political document that, in spite of a number of real strengths, is written at a very low level and does not adequately reflect our current understanding of why the math programs in the high achieving countries give dramatically better results"

That is incorrect information - there were a lot of math SMEs involved in developing and reviewing the standards. Not just one. Not even remotely just one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You really should google the genesis of this test and who was involved in putting it and common core together. The ONE -- yes, ONE -- mathematician who was involved DID NOT sign off on the final product.

Where did you find this information? Do you have a link to an article?

James Milgram is a professor emeritus of mathematics at Stanford University. He served on the validation committee for the Common Core mathematics. He did not agree to approve the standards.
http://dianeravitch.net/2013/09/11/james-milgram-on-the-common-core-math-standards/


http://parentsacrossamerica.org/james-milgram-on-the-new-core-curriculum-standards-in-math/

"My Qualifications. I was one of the national reviewers of both the first and second drafts of the new TX math standards. I was also one of the 25 members of the CCSSO/NGA Validation Committee, and the only content expert in mathematics.
...
As a result, there are a number of extremely serious failings in Core Standards that make it premature for any state with serious hopes for improving the quality of the mathematical education of their children to adopt them.
...
Core Standards – in large measure a political document that, in spite of a number of real strengths, is written at a very low level and does not adequately reflect our current understanding of why the math programs in the high achieving countries give dramatically better results"

That is incorrect information - there were a lot of math SMEs involved in developing and reviewing the standards. Not just one. Not even remotely just one.

There WAS only ONE mathematician on the VALIDATION committee for common core standards. And he did NOT approve of them going forward as they were. That is a fact.

[Anonymous]

Hi i just want to be sure that i have the option to opt my child from the parcc testing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi i just want to be sure that i have the option to opt my child from the parcc testing?

We are doing it at our school. Contacted the principal who is making alternate arrangements for our child's days when there is testing. We were certainly not told that this wasn't an option at our school. If contact your school Principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi i just want to be sure that i have the option to opt my child from the parcc testing?

We are doing it at our school. Contacted the principal who is making alternate arrangements for our child's days when there is testing. We were certainly not told that this wasn't an option at our school. If contact your school Principal.

Meant to say I'd contact your school Principal.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! i will contact my son principal tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

The claim is that only one mathematician was involved in developing the Common Core math standard? Sorry, but again, that's just flat-out wrong... here's a few more names from the Common Core Math Workgroup who have math expertise:

Susan K. Eddins is a retired, National Board Certified mathematics teacher. Eddins taught at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, a grade 10 – 12 public, selective-admissions high school for “gifted students who love math and science.”

Kaye Forgione - high school math teacher

Marci Ladd - masters in applied mathematics from Johns Hopkins and three years of experience as a math instructor at Montgomery College (1991-92) and Central Texas College (1993-95).

William McCallum - taught math at the university level since 1987, University of Arizona

Doug Sovde - classroom teaching experience in Bellvue, Washington, bachelors degree is in mathematics, and his teaching experience is in high school math.

Jason Zimba - bachelors and masters in mathematics and another masters plus a doctorate in physics, taught physics and mathematics at Bennington College, taught disadvantaged high school students, and children of non-English speaking immigrants

And then let's not forget about the Math Feedback Group which had more math SMEs and math teachers, and let's not forget about the National Policy Forum members, and then all of the external stakeholder groups like National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), NEA, AFT and yet another cast of hundreds of professional educators and experts who reviewed the standard, modified the standard, and provided input and vetting.

"Only one math teacher was involved in developing the Math portion of Common Core?" Nope, sorry, not even a remotely credible claim.

[Anonymous]

Hello for those of us who decided to opt out is there a letter i should write or just call the school and ask the principal that i will like to opt my son from the test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. They are designed to force teachers into adopting conforming curricula that is more consistent across all strata of society. No one should pass high school if they don't know a standardized set of knowledge and skills. Saying otherwise implies that you think it is okay for education to be dumbed down for "those kids" so that they can appear to be achieving. It is a way of ameliorating white guilt if we fictitiously prop up graduation rates with meaningless pass rates.

Ha!!! You think teachers 'adopt' curriculim? They have no power and all the blame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello for those of us who decided to opt out is there a letter i should write or just call the school and ask the principal that i will like to opt my son from the test?

Talk to your principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The claim is that only one mathematician was involved in developing the Common Core math standard? Sorry, but again, that's just flat-out wrong...

No one said that. Go back and re-read. VALIDATION COMMITTEE.

[Anonymous]

My friend tried opting out and the principal said she cannot, then she was told by someone at DCPS that DC kids those not have the option to opt out they have to do the test. What can she do? Her daughter is depressed and does not want to do the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend tried opting out and the principal said she cannot, then she was told by someone at DCPS that DC kids those not have the option to opt out they have to do the test. What can she do? Her daughter is depressed and does not want to do the test.

OP here. I ended up contacting our school Principal as a PP did and was told they will make accommodations. I am positive that our Principal would not have said/done this if it was not possible per DCPS rules to do!!

Someone else here may have a much better idea, but what about trying to go back to the Principal and saying that they know for a fact that some at other schools ARE opting out and that their Principals ARE accommodating them?? Might be worth a try...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello for those of us who decided to opt out is there a letter i should write or just call the school and ask the principal that i will like to opt my son from the test?

OP here again. I started with a conversation with our Principal and followed up with an email to confirm. I asked if a more formal letter to anyone was required and was told that it wasn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend tried opting out and the principal said she cannot, then she was told by someone at DCPS that DC kids those not have the option to opt out they have to do the test. What can she do? Her daughter is depressed and does not want to do the test.

Then don't ask for heavens sake! Neither your teacher nor your principal should give you irregular, if not illegal guidance. DC does not have an opt-out procedure and probably never will. That doesn't mean you can't keep your child home, write them sick, or take other measures you feel are important to you or your child. I know parents of Kindergarteners who feel their kids should not have homework and refuse to do it with them. This is no different. Just don't raise such a fit about it and don't expect any signatures of validations for such action. It's your responsibility and yours to suck up.

That said, I personally wouldn't opt out. There are an infinite number of things you'll feel like opting out from until your child graduates from 12th grade. Do you really want to have that conversation at every turn? Maybe now that you're in charge, why not. But what about middle and high school, when your child will feel in charge and wonder whether this, that or the other isn't asking a little much or altogether useless. "I'm sure mom and dad would agree, this is crap." You're setting the tone now and that's what will come back to you. Sometimes you may agree but often you won't. It'll be easier to have that conversation if you instill a sense that school is a package deal. You (my dear child) don't get to pick and choose what you feel is useful and what not.