Help! Opting out of testing for student in home/hospital

[Anonymous]

Tell them to get bent. That’s ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Why are you not homeschooling your child? This child sounds like a perfect candidate for homeschooling. With homeschooling, you can opt out of testing and work around the child's schedule. I graduated a child who was often sickly through homeschooling. Child is currently in a university program that accommodates the child's situation. I have two other kids in MCPS but MCPS is not for every child. It just didn't work for this particular child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are you not homeschooling your child? This child sounds like a perfect candidate for homeschooling. With homeschooling, you can opt out of testing and work around the child's schedule. I graduated a child who was often sickly through homeschooling. Child is currently in a university program that accommodates the child's situation. I have two other kids in MCPS but MCPS is not for every child. It just didn't work for this particular child.

Why is OP not homeschooling her child? Because by law, the state is required to offer a Free Appropriate Public Education, regardless of disability. Homeschooling shifts the burden of education to the parent and not the state to provide. I’m happy if you chose to homeschool your child, but I hope you have enough self-awareness to recognize the place of privilege that choice comes from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry your child has been ill for a whole year. Must be exhausting for you as a parent. Maybe homeschooling would work better.

Oh, yes, I know what would make OP less exhausted! - adding the burden of planning and delivering an education to her child in addition to being her caregiver and coordinating her medical care (not to mention, perhaps, to trying to hold down a job so they can eat, have access to health insurance and pay all those deductibles, copays and coinsurance.)

[Anonymous]

I used to be a test coordinator when I worked for MCPS as an administrator. While I know there's no opting out, nobody can force your child to test. We don't care. We know it's a waste of time. They will send you a letter about opting out but nobody is putting a red mark in your child's file. It's really not that serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to be a test coordinator when I worked for MCPS as an administrator. While I know there's no opting out, nobody can force your child to test. We don't care. We know it's a waste of time. They will send you a letter about opting out but nobody is putting a red mark in your child's file. It's really not that serious.

I did contact his case manager and they relayed the message - I did get the email that you are referring to I think! I understand they have to cover the bases. I was called incessantly for MAP testing during the winter testing season that I wanted to find a way to get them to understand he's not available for testing right now. Thank you!

And for those who mentioned homeschooling. Yes! I would LOVE that as an option, but I am a single parent trying to do this on my own with no family. Homeschooling would be too much on top of handling all the doctor appointments and working. He also wants to start transitioning back to school because he misses his friends. I can't take that from him. His case manager has some good ideas to help get him back into school. I have to rely on MCPS

[Anonymous]

OP, MAP testing can be done at home via the computer.

We got an email telling us to bring our child in on XXX dates. It said that there is no opt out but your child can refuse testing if in person and they will not be forced to take it. If not in person, you simply don't bring them. We aren't bringing our children. No big deal. Don't stress over this. You have too many other important things. This is not one.

We opted out of testing last year (except MAP) and nothing happened.