Teachers investigated for explaining opt-out to parents

Parent Cafe
1

6 teachers were brought up for a disciplinary hearing after explaining opt-out of state testing to some parents.

http://germantownavenueparents.com/2015/01/teachers-at-feltonville-investigated-for-informing-parents-about-opt-out-rights/

I am disturbed by the idea that teachers are somehow prohibited from telling parents about their legal rights regarding children and testing. Does the opt-out movement itself have a chance of creating enough pushback to slow the edubusiness/political juggernaut? Do people opt-out where you are? Here in PA, it is slowing gaining popularity, but mainly amongst college-educated suburbans —

2

It is a huge issue in NJ. New testing (PARCC) will begin this year and parents are hopping mad about it. Many have looked into opting out for their children and principals are giving them a very hard time. I don’t know how it will all work out, but it will be ugly. Very ugly.

This is an example of what is happening in NJ:
http://www.app.com/story/news/education/education-trends/2014/11/13/parents-try-opt-parcc-test/18982547/

So glad this does not involve my family!

3

As a teacher, it disgusts me to see good teachers sanctioned for trying to do what is right for kids. My school system is adopting the PARCC exam this year and the preparation for it is a debacle.

4

For Massachusetts MCAS state testing, students are given as much time as they need. PARCC has strict time limits–only special needs students get more time, if required by their accomodations plan. The complexity and “higher order thinking” required for PARCC seems to not jive with fixed time. Then, factor in the clunkiness of the PARCC website interface–ridiculous.