How do I opt my child out of standardized testing?

-Write an opt out letter to the principal of your child's school stating your refusal. Find sample letters at www.UnitedOptOut.com.

-Your opt out letter should specify any or ALL standardized tests you wish to refuse, including district-created interim assessments. Some tests currently administered in DCSD include MAP, PARCC, CMAS, TCAP, STAR, AIMSWeb, CoAlt, ACCESS, CogAt, and more. Ask your child’s teacher for more information.

-Opt out soon! Many schools start testing during the first few weeks of school. Ask your child’s teacher for this year’s testing schedule. Your children are tested more frequently than you realize.

-Don’t be bullied! The US Supreme Court has ruled that parents have the right to direct the education of their children. As a result, thousands of parents opt out of high stakes testing each year without any consequence. There are many resources and people willing to help you!

For MUCH more information on Common Core, high stakes testing and Opt Out, please visit the following websites:

www.angelaengel.com www.unitedoptout.com www.resistthetest.org www.parentsacrossamerica.org www.thecbe.org

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to “opt out?” -Opting out means you refuse high stakes testing (HST) for your child. This can include district, state and federally mandated standardized testing.

Why is this important now?-Public education across America is facing unprecedented attacks by people and groups who wish to destroy our public schools in an effort to privatize education. Schools are suffering while testing companies are making billions.

Why does opting out matter?-The privatization movement needs your child’s testing data in order to succeed. By opting out, parents withhold this data and send a message that they will not participate in the corporate “reform” of education. Opting out supports public schools and their teachers.

Will opting out hurt the teacher?-We are awaiting clarification about the specific impact on teacher evaluations. We know that teachers can assess student progress better than these tests can. Opting out reinforces the important work that teachers do.

Will opting out hurt the school?-The CDE has the discretion to lower school performance ratings (bully tactic), but ratings are not tied to school funding.

Will opting out hurt my child?-No. They won’t be penalized, be held back or jeopardize college opportunities. Colleges do not consider these tests (TCAP, CMAS) for

Why OPT OUT of standardized testing?

A guide for parents/guardians and students

Voices for Public EducationColorado RAVE (Re-igniting

Association Values for Educators)

A QUICK LOOK AT THE ISSUES

It is estimated that the State of Colorado spends more than $37,000,000 annually to prepare, administer and grade the CSAP/TCAP.

Millions of dollars are spent on testing while classes like art, music, language and PE are being eliminated.

Since the implementation of standardized testing, the number of students per teacher has increased.

Our children spend what amounts to WEEKS preparing specifically for standardized subject tests rather than learning diverse material.

Standardized testing now begins in kindergarten, or sometimes in pre-K.

The Common Core State Standards will lead to EVEN MORE TESTING starting this year (CMAS, PARCC).

Newer tests are administered electronically, meaning MORE money will be spent on testing equipment rather than on students/classrooms.

Your child’s personal information and testing data are now available to third parties, and can be sold to private companies (Data Mining).

Research shows that standardized tests are not accurate measures of a student’s learning, especially for students with language barriers or learning difficulties.

“I realize teachers are afraid and the only way

we have been able to get any traction is by

refusing the test. If we do not opt out, we will

lose all leverage and things will get worse.”–

Angela Engel, co-founder, Executive

Director, Uniting 4 Kids

"There is no federal law prohibiting a parent

from opting their child out of CSAP…...

Students who do not test, including those who

do so due to parent refusal, are counted as

non-participants when determining

participation rates for state and federal

accountability purposes" -Jo O'Brien,

Assistant Commissioner of Standards,

Colorado Department of Education (CDE)

“School academic performance ratings (SAR)

will no longer be assigned for Colorado

schools. The Education Accountability Act of

2009 (SB 09-163) repealed previous SAR law.

Negative weights for Unsatisfactory and No

Score percentages are not in effect anymore.”

-James McIntosh, Director of

Student Assessment, CDE

Why opt out?

Opting out of high stakes testing is the best action parents can take to help resist the current takeover of our public schools. Common Core and the resulting artificial accountability through high stakes testing are slowly dismantling public education. It has denied teachers the freedom to meet the diverse needs of their students. It has also robbed students of creativity, critical thinking and collaborative learning opportunities. Excellent educators are losing heart and leaving the profession. This national movement is about saving the teaching profession and public education.

What is Common Core (CCSS)?

Common Core State Standards are education standards developed in 2009 by

mostly non-educators and big government. Full implementation is

scheduled for 2014-2015, and is to be measured by a series of standardized

tests. These tests, referred to as High Stakes Testing, have significant

consequences for students, teachers and schools. Just a few criticisms of Common

Core include:

It is not developmentally appropriate for young children and there is no research to support it. The dramatic increase in testing means much less time teaching and learning a diverse curriculum. Student test data and personal