Handling Pushback from Districts and Administration
Albuquerque Public Schools Tries to Set Another "Due Date" for Opt Out
They tried this last year, too. Obviously, it didn't work. Just in case, we suggest you follow the following steps in Albuquerque:
They tried this last year, too. Obviously, it didn't work. Just in case, we suggest you follow the following steps in Albuquerque:
- Copy, paste, and edit the template from the tab titled, "Opt Out Letter Templates." Paste the edited letter into an email and send to [email protected].
- Print the opt out form that fits your situation from http://www.aps.edu/schools/testing. (It's last year's form, but it's all they have available.)
- Fill it out and send it via the mail, fax, or email instructions on the bottom of the form.
From a District Testing Coordinator:
Have you heard about a PED training going around where districts are being told that PED claims a Federal law won't allow opt out in New Mexico schools? Some districts are taking this as a "green light" to deny parent refusals in any form. You need to push back against this claim. Here's the truth, from a district coordinator who attended that training:
"I'm a District Test Coordinator who was present at the recent training which is causing such an uproar. Here's some clarification:
Joslyn Overby did not say that parents cannot opt their children out of the test. She said that schools/districts can't legally have an opt-out policy, which is actually true. Schools/districts are required by federal law to test all eligible students, so offering an opt-out option is technically against the law.
She did, however, say that it's up to individual districts/charters to decide on local procedures to handle students who refuse to test. Although schools are under no legal obligation to provide another learning environment during testing time for kids who refuse to test, they certainly CAN do so if they choose. Otherwise, students who refuse to test can stay home.
This is why I have never created an opt-out form for our school, but did create procedures for housing students who refuse to test. In my school, any student who refuses to test will be scheduled with one of their regular teachers during testing time to work on regular classwork. Problem solved.
I am by no means a supporter of the PED's disastrous adoption of corporate deform. However, I do believe that local distinct/charter personnel can do a MUCH better job of interpreting information that comes from PED. A careful implementation of legally required testing measures, rather a messy interpretation of slides at a PED training, can sheild our students from a whole lot of unnecessary heartache.
Joslyn Overby was very clear on this point, and she never even suggested that parents/students do not have the right to refuse to test. In this case, your quarrel is with your local district/charter, not with PED."
Have you heard about a PED training going around where districts are being told that PED claims a Federal law won't allow opt out in New Mexico schools? Some districts are taking this as a "green light" to deny parent refusals in any form. You need to push back against this claim. Here's the truth, from a district coordinator who attended that training:
"I'm a District Test Coordinator who was present at the recent training which is causing such an uproar. Here's some clarification:
Joslyn Overby did not say that parents cannot opt their children out of the test. She said that schools/districts can't legally have an opt-out policy, which is actually true. Schools/districts are required by federal law to test all eligible students, so offering an opt-out option is technically against the law.
She did, however, say that it's up to individual districts/charters to decide on local procedures to handle students who refuse to test. Although schools are under no legal obligation to provide another learning environment during testing time for kids who refuse to test, they certainly CAN do so if they choose. Otherwise, students who refuse to test can stay home.
This is why I have never created an opt-out form for our school, but did create procedures for housing students who refuse to test. In my school, any student who refuses to test will be scheduled with one of their regular teachers during testing time to work on regular classwork. Problem solved.
I am by no means a supporter of the PED's disastrous adoption of corporate deform. However, I do believe that local distinct/charter personnel can do a MUCH better job of interpreting information that comes from PED. A careful implementation of legally required testing measures, rather a messy interpretation of slides at a PED training, can sheild our students from a whole lot of unnecessary heartache.
Joslyn Overby was very clear on this point, and she never even suggested that parents/students do not have the right to refuse to test. In this case, your quarrel is with your local district/charter, not with PED."