DISCLAIMER: Read the following, knowing that high school graduation requirements are changing almost every month. Skandera is not forthcoming with her policies and there is no doubt many things that have not been made public. Please talk to your district graduation office. Also, know that this is a baseline year. The more we disrupt the data, the more invalid the whole scheme becomes.
Do I have the right to opt out of PARCC testing in high school?
Parents have the fundamental right to determine and guide the course of their children’s education. Children have the fundamental right to a free and appropriate public education. That means that parents have the right to see the materials used to educate their kids and choose to opt out. See nmoptout.org for more about opt out rights.
How do I refuse the PARCC? Is there a form I need to fill out?
It depends on the district. The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) has told districts that it will not create policy on opting out, and districts may not make official policy either. Some districts are recognizing and using the Parent Exemption forms from the previous testing manual. Others are not. The best bet is to write a Refusal Letter and submit it to the district testing office. Letter templates can be found at nmoptout.org.
I’ve heard that refusing the PARCC in high school means no diploma. Is that true?
Not exactly. According to PED Rule, refusing the PARCC test in high school (for Classes of 2017 and later) can mean that students will not meet the assessment requirements for graduation. That means, once the required course credits are attained, the student will be eligible for a Certificate of Completion, rather than a Diploma of Excellence.
Students must pass the PARCC requirement once for math and English, within three attempts, and two attempts for the Science SBA. If three attempts are taken, and the student doesn’t pass, then Alternative Demonstrations of Competency (ADCs) may be implemented. The Public Education Department (PED) will NOT allow the implementation of ADCs until the PARCC has been attempted three times.
See the graduation requirements for Class of 2015, 2016, and 2017.
There is a catch to this rule, however. Read the next question.
My son is a junior and has already passed the NMSBA in 10th grade. Does he still have to take the PARCC?
Technically, no. According to NM Statute, when a student enters high school, the graduation requirements for that student at the time of enrollment stay with the student until graduation. If students in Cohorts 2015 and 2016 have taken and passed the required SBA tests, they do not have to take the PARCC test.
However, juniors this year (Class of 2016) will need to retake the ELA PARCC in order to complete the writing assessment.
PED has made an administrative rule that states that all high school students must take the PARCC test, but in NM, statute supercedes administrative rule. Talk to your district about this. They are pressured to make all students take the PARCC, but NM Statute conflicts with this rule.
See the Resources tab for the documents titled 2015 Graduation Requirements and More About Graduation Requirements!
My child has special needs and an IEP. Can we refuse the PARCC?
Absolutely. Opting out of the PARCC, or taking the PARCC, has no effect whatsoever on an IEP. An IEP is a document that ensures the civil rights of students with special needs and cannot be altered or removed due to actions on the PARCC. The same goes for a Section 504 document.
Parents of high school students who wish not to opt out can ask that accommodations be put in place and the cut scores set by the IEP team.
The “Standard Pathway” to graduation requires completion of course credits AND the assessment requirements, including PARCC, with approved accommodations for students with an IEP, 504, or ELL Plan.
For students with an IEP, the “Career Pathway” allows the IEP team to set individual passing scores for the PARCC, based on prior performance.
For students on an IEP, the “Ability Pathway” allows students to take an alternate assessment, and the IEP team can determine cut scores.
See more in the Accommodations Manual: http://ped.state.nm.us/SEB/technical/GraduationOptionsStudentsWithDisabilities.pdf
If my child chooses to refuse the PARCC, and accept the Certificate of Completion, will that make it difficult to get into college?
As of now, all New Mexico state universities and community colleges will accept students with a Certificate of Completion, as long as GPA, ACT/SAT scores (if required), and coursework meet their admission requirements.
I heard that colleges will make students with a Certificate of Completion take remedial courses as freshman. Is that true?
No. This is a rumor that has no basis. Colleges use several factors to determine placement into freshman courses that have nothing to do with the type of diploma high school graduates have. Some examples are ACT and SAT test scores, courses completed in high school, and college entrance and placement exams.
If my child refuses the PARCC, and receives a Certificate of Completion, will he/she be denied Federal or state financial aid for college?
As of now, the requirement for Federal financial aid and the lottery scholarship is a high school diploma or other indicator of high school equivalency (including a Certificate of Completion or GED).
If my student takes and fails the PARCC three times, what are the ADCs we can use?
This is mostly a district choice, but parents should make their voices heard on this. Some examples of approved ADCs are end-of-course exams (EoCs), SAT, AP exams, Accuplacer, IB exams, and other “college-and-career-readiness” indicators. Talk to your district administration or high school counselor about options.
Do I have the right to opt out of PARCC testing in high school?
Parents have the fundamental right to determine and guide the course of their children’s education. Children have the fundamental right to a free and appropriate public education. That means that parents have the right to see the materials used to educate their kids and choose to opt out. See nmoptout.org for more about opt out rights.
How do I refuse the PARCC? Is there a form I need to fill out?
It depends on the district. The New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) has told districts that it will not create policy on opting out, and districts may not make official policy either. Some districts are recognizing and using the Parent Exemption forms from the previous testing manual. Others are not. The best bet is to write a Refusal Letter and submit it to the district testing office. Letter templates can be found at nmoptout.org.
I’ve heard that refusing the PARCC in high school means no diploma. Is that true?
Not exactly. According to PED Rule, refusing the PARCC test in high school (for Classes of 2017 and later) can mean that students will not meet the assessment requirements for graduation. That means, once the required course credits are attained, the student will be eligible for a Certificate of Completion, rather than a Diploma of Excellence.
Students must pass the PARCC requirement once for math and English, within three attempts, and two attempts for the Science SBA. If three attempts are taken, and the student doesn’t pass, then Alternative Demonstrations of Competency (ADCs) may be implemented. The Public Education Department (PED) will NOT allow the implementation of ADCs until the PARCC has been attempted three times.
See the graduation requirements for Class of 2015, 2016, and 2017.
There is a catch to this rule, however. Read the next question.
My son is a junior and has already passed the NMSBA in 10th grade. Does he still have to take the PARCC?
Technically, no. According to NM Statute, when a student enters high school, the graduation requirements for that student at the time of enrollment stay with the student until graduation. If students in Cohorts 2015 and 2016 have taken and passed the required SBA tests, they do not have to take the PARCC test.
However, juniors this year (Class of 2016) will need to retake the ELA PARCC in order to complete the writing assessment.
PED has made an administrative rule that states that all high school students must take the PARCC test, but in NM, statute supercedes administrative rule. Talk to your district about this. They are pressured to make all students take the PARCC, but NM Statute conflicts with this rule.
See the Resources tab for the documents titled 2015 Graduation Requirements and More About Graduation Requirements!
My child has special needs and an IEP. Can we refuse the PARCC?
Absolutely. Opting out of the PARCC, or taking the PARCC, has no effect whatsoever on an IEP. An IEP is a document that ensures the civil rights of students with special needs and cannot be altered or removed due to actions on the PARCC. The same goes for a Section 504 document.
Parents of high school students who wish not to opt out can ask that accommodations be put in place and the cut scores set by the IEP team.
The “Standard Pathway” to graduation requires completion of course credits AND the assessment requirements, including PARCC, with approved accommodations for students with an IEP, 504, or ELL Plan.
For students with an IEP, the “Career Pathway” allows the IEP team to set individual passing scores for the PARCC, based on prior performance.
For students on an IEP, the “Ability Pathway” allows students to take an alternate assessment, and the IEP team can determine cut scores.
See more in the Accommodations Manual: http://ped.state.nm.us/SEB/technical/GraduationOptionsStudentsWithDisabilities.pdf
If my child chooses to refuse the PARCC, and accept the Certificate of Completion, will that make it difficult to get into college?
As of now, all New Mexico state universities and community colleges will accept students with a Certificate of Completion, as long as GPA, ACT/SAT scores (if required), and coursework meet their admission requirements.
I heard that colleges will make students with a Certificate of Completion take remedial courses as freshman. Is that true?
No. This is a rumor that has no basis. Colleges use several factors to determine placement into freshman courses that have nothing to do with the type of diploma high school graduates have. Some examples are ACT and SAT test scores, courses completed in high school, and college entrance and placement exams.
If my child refuses the PARCC, and receives a Certificate of Completion, will he/she be denied Federal or state financial aid for college?
As of now, the requirement for Federal financial aid and the lottery scholarship is a high school diploma or other indicator of high school equivalency (including a Certificate of Completion or GED).
If my student takes and fails the PARCC three times, what are the ADCs we can use?
This is mostly a district choice, but parents should make their voices heard on this. Some examples of approved ADCs are end-of-course exams (EoCs), SAT, AP exams, Accuplacer, IB exams, and other “college-and-career-readiness” indicators. Talk to your district administration or high school counselor about options.