Con 1: Standardized tests only determine which students are good at taking tests. Con 2: Standardized tests are racist, classist, and sexist. Con 3: Standardized tests scores are not predictors of future success. Con 4: Standardized tests are unfair metrics for teacher evaluations.
Depending on the state, there is not much impact on the student. In the past, the standardized test scores could be used to determine remediation or placement, but recently this has been done away with for the most part in most states.
To protect your child: For many students, the Big Test can be very stressful. To improve education for all students: Opting out is an effective way to protest the overuse and misuse of standardized tests, which forces schools to focus on the demands of the tests instead of the needs of students.
It could be as basic as: “I want to let you know we do not want our child, name, to take part in the name the standardized exam this year. Please arrange for him or her to have a productive educational experience during the testing period.”Some states or districts have specific forms.
Standardized tests measure little of what parents and others want children to learn and experience in schools. They do not measure creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, leadership or empathy. Many schools narrow their focus to the tested subjects of math and reading. Other important subjects are sidelined.
To protect your child: For many students, the Big Test can be very stressful. To improve education for all students: Opting out is an effective way to protest the overuse and misuse of standardized tests, which forces schools to focus on the demands of the tests instead of the needs of students.