opting out of standardized testing

[Anonymous]

My daughter has an IEP. She will be in third grade next year, when the standardized testing kicks in. I can't imagine her sitting--even with an aide--and trying to fill out all those bubbles correctly. How do I find out when the tests are administered, so I can write a polite note to the school saying she won't be in school those days? I'll take off from work and take her to museums, etc.--she won't have "days off" from learning. But she won't be sitting at a desk feeling stupid either. She'll get the "test prep" so she'll know what's going on.
What do other parents of kids with IEPs do? Is opting out of standardized testing a big deal?

[Anonymous]

You can get an accommodation for your DC to circle the correct answer in the booklet and not do the bubbles.

[Anonymous]

Yes, as PP says, you get accommodations. I can't recall everything that is on my son's list, but I know it involves extra time, certain type of environment, scribe if necessary, etc.

[Anonymous]

Exactly, my DC has extra time on the timed tests (SOLs are not timed anymore), scribe for the writing ones, reader or electronic reader for all. He can do the bubbling, so he does not have that anymore, but he did for the 3rd grade one.

[Anonymous]

Hate standardized testing. My ADHD/LD son will fill in any old answer just to get the test over with....he freely admits this to us. He's in 5th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter has an IEP. She will be in third grade next year, when the standardized testing kicks in. I can't imagine her sitting--even with an aide--and trying to fill out all those bubbles correctly. How do I find out when the tests are administered, so I can write a polite note to the school saying she won't be in school those days? I'll take off from work and take her to museums, etc.--she won't have "days off" from learning. But she won't be sitting at a desk feeling stupid either. She'll get the "test prep" so she'll know what's going on.
What do other parents of kids with IEPs do? Is opting out of standardized testing a big deal?

In our school, the state tests have a "testing window" so even if your child misses certain days, she'll just get tested on the days she returns, as long as it is during the three or four week testing window.

So you probably just can't keep her home on the days of the test.

But you might be able to formally refuse to allow your child to be tested.

[Anonymous]

This year in MD:

http://www.examiner.com/article/md-parent-files-suit-over-msa-opt-out-and-sets-precedent-for-future-assessments

Her daughter is in sixth grade and has a recognized anxiety disorder, and having to take six hours of high-pressure assessments in a week’s time on material that is not even being taught in the schools this year would cause her unnecessary and avoidable stress. When Ms. Rose tried to work with her school to opt her child out of taking the test, the school refused, saying she would have to keep her out of school for the entire testing period of 12 days.

[Anonymous]

This deal sets a precedent for future assessments in Maryland. By offering the deal, which was exactly what Ms. Rose had requested in the first place, the school system is acknowledging the legality of parents opting out of having the test administered to their children. If it had indeed been illegal for the school to do so, as they have been trying to convince parents, they could not have offered it in the deal.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Looks as if, for third grade, she can sit with an aide and do the circling (especially if they'll make her do it if she's absent). Drat.
I think my daughter, like the previous poster, will either just guess at anything to make progress down the page (she frequently skips lines and words anyway--ADD, anyone?) or will give up. She/we will endure third grade.
But I will ask her third-grade teacher and her special-ed teacher if there's anyway to have her formally excused from the testing. SHe's evaluated; she gets report cards, etc. This standardized testing is just too much for her, and we don't see the results, so we can't tell what she missed or where she screwed up or, miraculously, what she got right or guessed correctly.
I can't believe I'm worried about this already. School is so, so difficult for her, and that's with good friends and good teachers and wonderful aides, God bless them all. This standardized testing will be a real trial. Why, why, why do schools do it? I'm in Maryland, if that makes any difference.

[Anonymous]

What are these kids going to do when they get out into the world? I don't mean the ones who test with accomodations (that's why we have them) but the ones who get pulled out of school on test days to go to museums? What parent actually thinks this is okay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

This standardized testing will be a real trial. Why, why, why do schools do it? I'm in Maryland, if that makes any difference.

OP you seem to have already decided it's going to suck when in reality it might not. My son, who has some pretty serious issues that make test taking very difficult, loves standardized testing days. There are ways treats and a lot of school spirit. And if they just rush through, why do you care so long as it's not making her feel bad? Bad outcomes just make it easier to get services in future years. Whe I think it's wonderful that you are trying to think ahead and be proactive, I think you're worry is premature and grounded in fear rather than reality.

[Anonymous]

You admit that you don't know anything about testing and yet you are assuming things. Your child will get individualized testing accommodations which you will sign off on and discuss at your IEP meeting.

We shouldn't protect our kids from things that are difficult. And if you do, you send the message that you don't think she can do things that the rest of her class can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Looks as if, for third grade, she can sit with an aide and do the circling (especially if they'll make her do it if she's absent). Drat.
I think my daughter, like the previous poster, will either just guess at anything to make progress down the page (she frequently skips lines and words anyway--ADD, anyone?) or will give up. She/we will endure third grade.
But I will ask her third-grade teacher and her special-ed teacher if there's anyway to have her formally excused from the testing. SHe's evaluated; she gets report cards, etc. This standardized testing is just too much for her, and we don't see the results, so we can't tell what she missed or where she screwed up or, miraculously, what she got right or guessed correctly.
I can't believe I'm worried about this already. School is so, so difficult for her, and that's with good friends and good teachers and wonderful aides, God bless them all. This standardized testing will be a real trial. Why, why, why do schools do it? I'm in Maryland, if that makes any difference.

You have a right to see the results under FERPA. You have a right to see the scores, see her test and how she answered each item, if these are recorded in anyway with her name on it. For example, if she has an accommodation that allows her to circle the answer in the test booklet with her name on it, that becomes an "educational record" which you have a right to see under FERPA. FERPA also says that you have a right to enough information to understand the score presented to you. If there was a bubble sheet with her name on it, that is an "educational record" you have a right to see, as well as test Qs and right/wrong answers. You may have to sign a non-disclosure form, but it's your right to see it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get an accommodation for your DC to circle the correct answer in the booklet and not do the bubbles.

+1

Most of my students with IEPs did theirs on computer this year.

[Anonymous]

I sent a two sentence letter to the school stating that I did not wish DD to participate in standardized state-wide testing. For children with extreme fine motor challenges, it's ridiculous to suggest that circling and not bubbling would make any difference, or that more time would be a real accommodation. I would weep tears of joy if my child could circle an answer in an answer booklet. And it would take literally days for my child to go through 100 questions.