Opting out of PARCC testing in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow and wow and wow -- I too am thinking of opting out my daughter from the paracc I've opted out of accessment testing - I do feel teachers have gotten away from teaching and geared more through testing maybe not their faults but non the less the kids are losing here. Dont pretend to have all the answers but can tell you have sat here for two hours to do a practice parcc test with my kid. Haaaa I encourage all of you to give up an evening and do it and then come back with all the nasty comments

Don't get me wrong opinions we r all entitled but let's be a little adult about other people's thoughts we don't have to agree but we do have to be respectful and dare I say human some I believe have forgotten

Juanita, parent in DC

Exactly!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, irrational anger. Must be a lot at stake here for somebody or some group of bodied. Hmmmmm

What's irrational is having posters repeating over and over that only one mathematician evaluated the Common Core math standard, when in fact a half dozen names were presented of mathematicians who were directly involved in developing the standard, along with the fact that hundreds of math teachers from NCTM were involved in vetting, reviewing and providing feedback on the standards.

It does tend to make people angry when posters keep repeating the same nonsense over and over again even though it's already been proven to be false.

Facts have been presented, which make the opinions irrelevant and meaningless. The debate ends there.

I agree. I could care less about the test one way or the other, but it drives me nuts when people insist the world is flat after they've sailed around it and seen the photo from space (especially when they are the type to claim the photo and sailing trip were an elaborate hoax). But there really is nothing to be done about such people. You could put them in the room with the mathematicians and have those folks swear under oath that they evaluated it, etc., but some people will still refuse to believe them and will irrationally claim that they were paid to lie, etc. Let it go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again, irrational anger. Must be a lot at stake here for somebody or some group of bodied. Hmmmmm

What's irrational is having posters repeating over and over that only one mathematician evaluated the Common Core math standard, when in fact a half dozen names were presented of mathematicians who were directly involved in developing the standard, along with the fact that hundreds of math teachers from NCTM were involved in vetting, reviewing and providing feedback on the standards.

It does tend to make people angry when posters keep repeating the same nonsense over and over again even though it's already been proven to be false.

Facts have been presented, which make the opinions irrelevant and meaningless. The debate ends there.

I agree. I could care less about the test one way or the other, but it drives me nuts when people insist the world is flat after they've sailed around it and seen the photo from space (especially when they are the type to claim the photo and sailing trip were an elaborate hoax). But there really is nothing to be done about such people. You could put them in the room with the mathematicians and have those folks swear under oath that they evaluated it, etc., but some people will still refuse to believe them and will irrationally claim that they were paid to lie, etc. Let it go.

This is not an even remotely accurate reflection of the conversation on this topic. But now that you mentioned "flat earthers", I guess you win!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow and wow and wow -- I too am thinking of opting out my daughter from the paracc I've opted out of accessment testing - I do feel teachers have gotten away from teaching and geared more through testing maybe not their faults but non the less the kids are losing here. Dont pretend to have all the answers but can tell you have sat here for two hours to do a practice parcc test with my kid. Haaaa I encourage all of you to give up an evening and do it and then come back with all the nasty comments

Don't get me wrong opinions we r all entitled but let's be a little adult about other people's thoughts we don't have to agree but we do have to be respectful and dare I say human some I believe have forgotten

Juanita, parent in DC

It's pointless to opt out of the test. It's not going to change what goes on in your kid's classroom if you opt out, the teachers are still going to teach the same way, they are still going to do the prep work, they are still going to be allocating the same amount of time to testing whether you opt out or not. Testing is the law, schools are required to do it, whether students opt out or not. And when students do opt out, basically that test gets marked as a zero, and the school ends up getting dinged on proficiency, which ends up hurting them, and that ends up hurting your kid's teacher.

+100 pointless and counterproductive. You aren't helping anyone by opting out. And it's not as though opting out is going to change the paradigm, as less than 1% have chosen to opt out. The "opt out movement" isn't even moving the needle.

[Anonymous]

Both of my kids took the test for the past two days. They have one more day and are looking forward to it. Not only are they unharmed, they loved it. Can everyone please stop shoveling on the piles of drama? It's JUST. A. TEST.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both of my kids took the test for the past two days. They have one more day and are looking forward to it. Not only are they unharmed, they loved it. Can everyone please stop shoveling on the piles of drama? It's JUST. A. TEST.

I hope for you that you feel the same way once their results are in. Results that our principal expects to be useless, but still remain in their files.

I think the highest drama in this thread was some cursing in all caps at those who were not thrilled with this test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both of my kids took the test for the past two days. They have one more day and are looking forward to it. Not only are they unharmed, they loved it. Can everyone please stop shoveling on the piles of drama? It's JUST. A. TEST.

Aren't there several more days of testing next week as well? We've been told 3 for language arts this week, 3 for math next week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both of my kids took the test for the past two days. They have one more day and are looking forward to it. Not only are they unharmed, they loved it. Can everyone please stop shoveling on the piles of drama? It's JUST. A. TEST.

Aren't there several more days of testing next week as well? We've been told 3 for language arts this week, 3 for math next week.

Don't think every school is doing the testing at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids took the DC CAS - no problem. I am not oppose at all to standardized testing. PARCC, however, strikes me as a train wreck right now -- not ready for prime time at best. They dropped from 24 participating states to 10 + DC.

Does anyone know if there is a way to opt our kids out of this testing this year in DC?

yes there are several states that initially joined the consortium of state superintendents that developed the common core, and have now withdrawn or are actively withdrawing from it. however, most of the states have conservative governors and legislatures. As far as data goes, I'm not for DC copying what Oklahoma, Georgia, or Alaska does. I think a little research will prove that those politicians in the states that opted out of academic standards that they actually helped develop in order to pander to their political base, is not a reason to opt out of PARCC or the common core. it was only last summer that people like bobby jindal and Sarah Palin were claiming that common core was a federal attempt to regulate education. nothing could be further from the truth but if it makes you feel good, go ahead and hop on the Ted Cruz gravy train. By the way, Texas just decided to amend the AP US History standards too, should DC follow that lead as well?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids took the DC CAS - no problem. I am not oppose at all to standardized testing. PARCC, however, strikes me as a train wreck right now -- not ready for prime time at best. They dropped from 24 participating states to 10 + DC.

Does anyone know if there is a way to opt our kids out of this testing this year in DC?

yes there are several states that initially joined the consortium of state superintendents that developed the common core, and have now withdrawn or are actively withdrawing from it. however, most of the states have conservative governors and legislatures. As far as data goes, I'm not for DC copying what Oklahoma, Georgia, or Alaska does. I think a little research will prove that those politicians in the states that opted out of academic standards that they actually helped develop in order to pander to their political base, is not a reason to opt out of PARCC or the common core. it was only last summer that people like bobby jindal and Sarah Palin were claiming that common core was a federal attempt to regulate education. nothing could be further from the truth but if it makes you feel good, go ahead and hop on the Ted Cruz gravy train. By the way, Texas just decided to amend the AP US History standards too, should DC follow that lead as well?

Let me guess, they have an issue with AP US History talking about slavery and the causes of the civil war, and want it referred to as "The War of Northern Aggression"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both of my kids took the test for the past two days. They have one more day and are looking forward to it. Not only are they unharmed, they loved it. Can everyone please stop shoveling on the piles of drama? It's JUST. A. TEST.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids took the DC CAS - no problem. I am not oppose at all to standardized testing. PARCC, however, strikes me as a train wreck right now -- not ready for prime time at best. They dropped from 24 participating states to 10 + DC.

Does anyone know if there is a way to opt our kids out of this testing this year in DC?

yes there are several states that initially joined the consortium of state superintendents that developed the common core, and have now withdrawn or are actively withdrawing from it. however, most of the states have conservative governors and legislatures. As far as data goes, I'm not for DC copying what Oklahoma, Georgia, or Alaska does. I think a little research will prove that those politicians in the states that opted out of academic standards that they actually helped develop in order to pander to their political base, is not a reason to opt out of PARCC or the common core. it was only last summer that people like bobby jindal and Sarah Palin were claiming that common core was a federal attempt to regulate education. nothing could be further from the truth but if it makes you feel good, go ahead and hop on the Ted Cruz gravy train. By the way, Texas just decided to amend the AP US History standards too, should DC follow that lead as well?

Makes no sense. You don't want dc to withdraw because Alaska and Georgia have. Heaven forbid we be like THEM. Let's not copy TX. But you'd prefer ALL
states have the exact same standards -- the ones you like? Ok.

To me, this isn't a political issue. It's an issue of a faulty, not ready for prime time test that is not developmentally appropriate in many places.

And if anyone is curious (R or D or I indicate current Governor's party):

http://truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-assessments/what-states-have-pulled-out-of-their-common-core-assessment-consortium/

States that have pulled out of their Assessment Consortium:
-- Utah (R)
-- Oklahoma (R)
-- Georgia (R)
-- Alabama (R)
-- Indiana (R)
-- Kansas (R)
-- Pennsylvania (D)
-- Alaska (I)
-- Florida (R)

States Actively Considering Withdrawing (delayed for now):
-- Michigan (R)
-- Kentucky (R)
-- North Carolina (R)
-- Iowa (R)

States that never joined:
-- Virginia (D)
-- Texas (R)
-- Nebraska (R)
-- Minnesota (D)

Dem: 3
Rep: 13
Ind: 1

And there are large opt it movements reported in New Jersey (R), Colorado (D), Oregon (D) that I've read about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids took the DC CAS - no problem. I am not oppose at all to standardized testing. PARCC, however, strikes me as a train wreck right now -- not ready for prime time at best. They dropped from 24 participating states to 10 + DC.

Does anyone know if there is a way to opt our kids out of this testing this year in DC?

yes there are several states that initially joined the consortium of state superintendents that developed the common core, and have now withdrawn or are actively withdrawing from it. however, most of the states have conservative governors and legislatures. As far as data goes, I'm not for DC copying what Oklahoma, Georgia, or Alaska does. I think a little research will prove that those politicians in the states that opted out of academic standards that they actually helped develop in order to pander to their political base, is not a reason to opt out of PARCC or the common core. it was only last summer that people like bobby jindal and Sarah Palin were claiming that common core was a federal attempt to regulate education. nothing could be further from the truth but if it makes you feel good, go ahead and hop on the Ted Cruz gravy train. By the way, Texas just decided to amend the AP US History standards too, should DC follow that lead as well?

Let me guess, they have an issue with AP US History talking about slavery and the causes of the civil war, and want it referred to as "The War of Northern Aggression"

Stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids took the DC CAS - no problem. I am not oppose at all to standardized testing. PARCC, however, strikes me as a train wreck right now -- not ready for prime time at best. They dropped from 24 participating states to 10 + DC.

Does anyone know if there is a way to opt our kids out of this testing this year in DC?

yes there are several states that initially joined the consortium of state superintendents that developed the common core, and have now withdrawn or are actively withdrawing from it. however, most of the states have conservative governors and legislatures. As far as data goes, I'm not for DC copying what Oklahoma, Georgia, or Alaska does. I think a little research will prove that those politicians in the states that opted out of academic standards that they actually helped develop in order to pander to their political base, is not a reason to opt out of PARCC or the common core. it was only last summer that people like bobby jindal and Sarah Palin were claiming that common core was a federal attempt to regulate education. nothing could be further from the truth but if it makes you feel good, go ahead and hop on the Ted Cruz gravy train. By the way, Texas just decided to amend the AP US History standards too, should DC follow that lead as well?

Let me guess, they have an issue with AP US History talking about slavery and the causes of the civil war, and want it referred to as "The War of Northern Aggression"

Come on. So tired, honestly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids took the DC CAS - no problem. I am not oppose at all to standardized testing. PARCC, however, strikes me as a train wreck right now -- not ready for prime time at best. They dropped from 24 participating states to 10 + DC.

Does anyone know if there is a way to opt our kids out of this testing this year in DC?

yes there are several states that initially joined the consortium of state superintendents that developed the common core, and have now withdrawn or are actively withdrawing from it. however, most of the states have conservative governors and legislatures. As far as data goes, I'm not for DC copying what Oklahoma, Georgia, or Alaska does. I think a little research will prove that those politicians in the states that opted out of academic standards that they actually helped develop in order to pander to their political base, is not a reason to opt out of PARCC or the common core. it was only last summer that people like bobby jindal and Sarah Palin were claiming that common core was a federal attempt to regulate education. nothing could be further from the truth but if it makes you feel good, go ahead and hop on the Ted Cruz gravy train. By the way, Texas just decided to amend the AP US History standards too, should DC follow that lead as well?

Makes no sense. You don't want dc to withdraw because Alaska and Georgia have. Heaven forbid we be like THEM. Let's not copy TX. But you'd prefer ALL
states have the exact same standards -- the ones you like? Ok.

To me, this isn't a political issue. It's an issue of a faulty, not ready for prime time test that is not developmentally appropriate in many places.

And if anyone is curious (R or D or I indicate current Governor's party):

http://truthinamericaneducation.com/common-core-assessments/what-states-have-pulled-out-of-their-common-core-assessment-consortium/

States that have pulled out of their Assessment Consortium:
-- Utah (R)
-- Oklahoma (R)
-- Georgia (R)
-- Alabama (R)
-- Indiana (R)
-- Kansas (R)
-- Pennsylvania (D)
-- Alaska (I)
-- Florida (R)

States Actively Considering Withdrawing (delayed for now):
-- Michigan (R)
-- Kentucky (R)
-- North Carolina (R)
-- Iowa (R)

States that never joined:
-- Virginia (D)
-- Texas (R)
-- Nebraska (R)
-- Minnesota (D)

Dem: 3
Rep: 13
Ind: 1

And there are large opt it movements reported in New Jersey (R), Colorado (D), Oregon (D) that I've read about.

This is from Jan 2014 -- I think some others may have officially dropped Common Core since.

Right now, there are only 10 states + DC doing the testing. Don't know if some will pick it back up after the many kinks are worked out of the test...?