Opting out of 2017 PARCC - Who has Experiencing with Opting Out? How did it work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, sorry, I should have stated that my child is only in elementary school. So OSSE can't threaten to keep them from graduating. What can they do to us if we opt out, other than perhaps hassle us over attendance issues?

I'll open a can of worms here if I start talking about how much I dislike what the current standardized testing regime has done to public education. Suffice it to say that I'd be OK with the sort of standardized tests I took in elementary school. They took less than two hours, with no test prep, or practice tests, or teacher evaluations linked to them. Families got the results a couple months later, not 8 or 9 months hence as with the PARCC.

Before enrolling my kid in a Johns Hopkins summer CTY camp, we had to submit to an hour, yes one hour in total, of standardized testing for reading and math. If Johns Hopkins only needs an hour to determine that my child is gifted, DCPS shouldn't need six days (with no GT program/reward for the child and family in the cards after the results are in).

What I don't understand is if you don't like the current standardized testing regime then go to a private school. Just skipping the couple days of testing doesn't change that your child's whole curriculum is focused on the test. If you are willing to subject them to the curriculum then why the big fuss about the testing.

Nobody's making a big fuss. Some of us simply wish to opt out quietly in a free country, keeping our reasons private. Here in DC, I sometimes miss the live and let live culture of New England, where I grew up.

And you are free to do that. So keep your kid home through the entire testing period as well as the makeup days. Or instruct them to go to the testing room and not do the test.

I don't understand the expectation that DCPS or a charter is supposed to provide someone with directions or guidance on how to opt out. Civil disobedience has a cost - that's the point. Making a sacrifice for something you believe in. There may be truancy investigations but in the end you or your child can't be punished. But your life can be made inconvenient or difficult.

[Anonymous]

OP here, I'm not expecting clear guidance from DCPS on opting out. Pretty clearly, DCPS isn't interested in working with parents who wish to opt out, at least not if their kids are advanced learners likely to score 5s, like mine. However, civil disobedience is too strong a descriptor for opting out of PARCC tests, given that there is provision in the Every Child Succeeds Act for states to tolerate the practice. Many states have taken a legal position on opting out since the Act was enacted almost two years ago. But DC doesn't seem to have done this, at least not formally, leaving parents in an opt-out limbo. This is why I'm asking about other parents' experiences. It's not clear to me if the crack-down on opting out at Wilson last year constitutes an official position under ECSA or not. Does anybody know?

To be sure, we expect some inconvenience, pressure, criticism, risk etc. Never mind, we're not here to help enrich Pearson's, McGraw-Hill etc., but will do our best to pass our non-conformist values onto the next generation.

[Anonymous]

This article in the Washington Examiner from a year ago takes a look at states' positions on opting out under the new law. Apparently, only Cal, Oregon and Colorado protect the practice. But a dozen other states have sort of de-criminalized it. It will be really interesting to see what happens around the country this spring on the opt out front.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/does-your-state-let-students-opt-out-of-standardized-tests/article/2587210

[Anonymous]

OP again. Diane Ravitch, one of the architects of No Child Left Behind, often writes about how pointless and meaningless state standardized tests have become in the last couple of decades, particularly for kids' teachers. She strongly encourages parents to opt out.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/diane-ravitch/why-every-child-should-opt-out_b_9659546.html

[Anonymous]

Wilson parents, why doesn't DC simply win permission from the Dept. of Education to use the SAT for federal accountability like Connecticut, Maine, Colorado, New Hampshire etc. have done? Wouldn't this keep the Wilson testing situation from blowing up again?

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/01/06/will-states-swap-standards-based-tests-for-sat.html

[Anonymous]

No brainer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wilson parents, why doesn't DC simply win permission from the Dept. of Education to use the SAT for federal accountability like Connecticut, Maine, Colorado, New Hampshire etc. have done? Wouldn't this keep the Wilson testing situation from blowing up again?

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/01/06/will-states-swap-standards-based-tests-for-sat.html

Sure. But for this spring all they need to do is 1) test only 10th graders (who will be in few APs) 2) test every kid who is supposed to take PARCC + an AP class at the end of the PARCC testing window, not the beginning, once APs are done. It's just not that hard.

[Anonymous]

OK, but why should DC high schoolers take a dead-ended high school PARCC test when DC could get permission to substitute the useful SAT for it? Waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Every Student Succeeds Act III2 (e)(2)(A)

School districts are required to inform parents and guardians of opt-out policies pertaining to statewide standardized tests.

This doesn't seem to be happening in DC. I've made several calls to OSSE in the last several weeks to ask what their policy on opting out is, and called the DCPS' Office of Family and Public Engagement (led by Shanita Burney). Nobody's given me a straight answer, verbally or in writing. It might be time to file a complaint that DCPS does not appear to be in compliance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson parents, why doesn't DC simply win permission from the Dept. of Education to use the SAT for federal accountability like Connecticut, Maine, Colorado, New Hampshire etc. have done? Wouldn't this keep the Wilson testing situation from blowing up again?

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/01/06/will-states-swap-standards-based-tests-for-sat.html

Sure. But for this spring all they need to do is 1) test only 10th graders (who will be in few APs) 2) test every kid who is supposed to take PARCC + an AP class at the end of the PARCC testing window, not the beginning, once APs are done. It's just not that hard.

All Wilson 10th graders took the PARCC last year as 9th graders. In theory that's it, and they shouldn't need to be tested again. I am getting different answers from different people on whether that is actually the case.

BTW, my Wilson 10th grader is in 3 AP classes. Many take one, and some take two or three. Not sure what school your kid attends, but this is pretty common at Wilson.

As for why they can't wait to schedule PARCCs for kids who ARE taking APs till after the AP exams are done, if I remember correctly, Wilson blamed that on DCPS and said they weren't given a choice on last year's timing. IT BETTER NOT HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wilson parents, why doesn't DC simply win permission from the Dept. of Education to use the SAT for federal accountability like Connecticut, Maine, Colorado, New Hampshire etc. have done? Wouldn't this keep the Wilson testing situation from blowing up again?

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/01/06/will-states-swap-standards-based-tests-for-sat.html

Sure. But for this spring all they need to do is 1) test only 10th graders (who will be in few APs) 2) test every kid who is supposed to take PARCC + an AP class at the end of the PARCC testing window, not the beginning, once APs are done. It's just not that hard.

All Wilson 10th graders took the PARCC last year as 9th graders. In theory that's it, and they shouldn't need to be tested again. I am getting different answers from different people on whether that is actually the case.

BTW, my Wilson 10th grader is in 3 AP classes. Many take one, and some take two or three. Not sure what school your kid attends, but this is pretty common at Wilson.

As for why they can't wait to schedule PARCCs for kids who ARE taking APs till after the AP exams are done, if I remember correctly, Wilson blamed that on DCPS and said they weren't given a choice on last year's timing. IT BETTER NOT HAPPEN AGAIN THIS YEAR.

Have you written to or met with the principal and the instructional supervisor? Ask for a meeting?

DCPS is overtesting kids with PARCC. OSSE only requires they do it once in high school. Push back -- appeal to new chancellor. I'm told that DCPS wants them to do it multiple times to get the passing rate up ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I'm not expecting clear guidance from DCPS on opting out. Pretty clearly, DCPS isn't interested in working with parents who wish to opt out, at least not if their kids are advanced learners likely to score 5s, like mine. However, civil disobedience is too strong a descriptor for opting out of PARCC tests, given that there is provision in the Every Child Succeeds Act for states to tolerate the practice. Many states have taken a legal position on opting out since the Act was enacted almost two years ago. But DC doesn't seem to have done this, at least not formally, leaving parents in an opt-out limbo. This is why I'm asking about other parents' experiences. It's not clear to me if the crack-down on opting out at Wilson last year constitutes an official position under ECSA or not. Does anybody know?

To be sure, we expect some inconvenience, pressure, criticism, risk etc. Never mind, we're not here to help enrich Pearson's, McGraw-Hill etc., but will do our best to pass our non-conformist values onto the next generation.

what makes you so sure your kids will get 5s? lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I'm not expecting clear guidance from DCPS on opting out. Pretty clearly, DCPS isn't interested in working with parents who wish to opt out, at least not if their kids are advanced learners likely to score 5s, like mine. However, civil disobedience is too strong a descriptor for opting out of PARCC tests, given that there is provision in the Every Child Succeeds Act for states to tolerate the practice. Many states have taken a legal position on opting out since the Act was enacted almost two years ago. But DC doesn't seem to have done this, at least not formally, leaving parents in an opt-out limbo. This is why I'm asking about other parents' experiences. It's not clear to me if the crack-down on opting out at Wilson last year constitutes an official position under ECSA or not. Does anybody know?

To be sure, we expect some inconvenience, pressure, criticism, risk etc. Never mind, we're not here to help enrich Pearson's, McGraw-Hill etc., but will do our best to pass our non-conformist values onto the next generation.

what makes you so sure your kids will get 5s? lol.

Because its not that hard. Sorry if you kids cant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I'm not expecting clear guidance from DCPS on opting out. Pretty clearly, DCPS isn't interested in working with parents who wish to opt out, at least not if their kids are advanced learners likely to score 5s, like mine. However, civil disobedience is too strong a descriptor for opting out of PARCC tests, given that there is provision in the Every Child Succeeds Act for states to tolerate the practice. Many states have taken a legal position on opting out since the Act was enacted almost two years ago. But DC doesn't seem to have done this, at least not formally, leaving parents in an opt-out limbo. This is why I'm asking about other parents' experiences. It's not clear to me if the crack-down on opting out at Wilson last year constitutes an official position under ECSA or not. Does anybody know?

To be sure, we expect some inconvenience, pressure, criticism, risk etc. Never mind, we're not here to help enrich Pearson's, McGraw-Hill etc., but will do our best to pass our non-conformist values onto the next generation.

what makes you so sure your kids will get 5s? lol.

Because its not that hard. Sorry if you kids cant.

eyes rolling so hard. you're a special kind of obnoxious -- so special that you just cannot take PARCC, yet you STILL have to brag that you'll get 5s on PARCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I'm not expecting clear guidance from DCPS on opting out. Pretty clearly, DCPS isn't interested in working with parents who wish to opt out, at least not if their kids are advanced learners likely to score 5s, like mine. However, civil disobedience is too strong a descriptor for opting out of PARCC tests, given that there is provision in the Every Child Succeeds Act for states to tolerate the practice. Many states have taken a legal position on opting out since the Act was enacted almost two years ago. But DC doesn't seem to have done this, at least not formally, leaving parents in an opt-out limbo. This is why I'm asking about other parents' experiences. It's not clear to me if the crack-down on opting out at Wilson last year constitutes an official position under ECSA or not. Does anybody know?

To be sure, we expect some inconvenience, pressure, criticism, risk etc. Never mind, we're not here to help enrich Pearson's, McGraw-Hill etc., but will do our best to pass our non-conformist values onto the next generation.

what makes you so sure your kids will get 5s? lol.

A year ago, kid cleared the SCAT test bar (in both reading and math) for participation in Johns Hopkins CTY summer camp by a comfortable margin. At the camp, kid took a reading and writing class pitched two years above grade level and did well. Kid works two years above grade level on Kumon math on-line and qualifies for participation in advanced pullout group at DCPS school. No guarantees that kid wills score 5s on the PARCC of course, but that seems likely. lol