Standardized tests part of movement to privatize public schools, Badass Teachers contend

When Common Core assessment testing began in Ohio, so did the outcry.

Parents across the state opted their children out of testing, despite a claim by the Ohio Department of Education saying, “There is no law that allows a parent or student to opt out of state testing, and there is no state test opt-out procedure or form.”

A Badass Teachers Association chapter was started in Cleveland. The national group opposes standardized tests of any kind and promotes teacher autonomy. They also promote the opting-out movement.

“We’re going to try and give condensed information and leave people with more answers than questions,” said Kelly Braun, creative director of national BATs and organizer of the Ohio chapter. “The PARCC testing is part of a large, corporatist movement to privatize public schools.”

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career tests are administered by PearsonAccess, a private company.

Despite the name, the tests begin in third grade and continue through high school. In 2014-15, Ohio was one of 11 states that administered PARCC tests. Tests were given in December, and then again in the spring in two testing periods, starting in February and ending in May.

The outcry was so strong, state legislators listened.

In April, Rep. Kyle Koehler, R-Springfield, introduced House Bill 138, which asks the Ohio Department of Education to apply for a waiver from federal testing and allow school districts to opt out of the end-of-year portion of the PARCC tests.

“We are taking eight weeks – almost an entire quarter of the school year – to see if students are learning something in the other three-quarters of the school year,” Koehler said.

“I can’t imagine what would happen if I stood before you today and suggested that students could afford eight weeks of calamity days and still have time to learn everything they need to learn in a typical school year,” said Koehler, during testimony April 21 to the House Education Committee.

Read more about the growing complaints in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.