Parents opt kids out of standardized tests at risk of repercussions for both

The controversy over the Common Core curriculum has spread quickly to its required testing – Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career.

Ohio was one of the first states to take the assessment tests, and Andrea Boyle was one of the first parents in Girard to opt her child out of that testing. Her sixth-grade son has an Individual Education Plan or IEP.

“He took the practice test and he came home and cried because he couldn’t get past Question 19,” Boyle said. “That was my determination to not have him take the actual testing. He has a hard time taking regular testing.”

Nancy Mulligan, an intervention specialist in Garrettsville, said the test is particularly troublesome for IEP students.

“You can’t give any assistance as far as clarifying directions or if a kid doesn’t understand where they are at or what they’re doing. You’re not allowed to say anything,” Mulligan said.

Other parents have criticized the PARCC tests as being too stressful and too hard.

The News Outlet asked 28 adults – all had at least a high-school diploma – to take the end-of-year PARCC practice tests in English and math.

These were for the fourth-grade level. In all, 23 passed the English and 22, the math.

Mulligan and a colleague participated.

“When we took the practice test together, we were arguing over what was the right answer,” said Mulligan. “She is working on her second master’s [degree] and I have a masters in special ed.”

Testing is just one issue. Preparation is another.

The Rev. Brandon Berg of Boardman is an associate pastor at Grace Family Church in

Canfield and a member of the Badass Teachers Association in Ohio, which opposes standardized testing. He spoke at a recent meeting of the group.

“I started seeing ridiculous homework come home with my kids that took two hours to get done for a third-grader, and that really started to alarm me,” The Rev. Mr. Berg. “I explained to the teacher and principal that they were not going to be taking these exams. They’ll want to make it sound like they need to give you permission to opt out. You don’t need permission because it’s already your parental right.”

Mr. Berg said he faced consequences as a result.

“There are always consequences to civil acts of disobedience. I was asked to step off of the PTA because I was intentionally doing damage to the school and the district by not allowing my son to participate in these exams. So, there was this punishment system,” he said.

Read other parents' experiences, how school administrators respond and the tie between testing and federal funding in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.