FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS “OPTING OUT” OF STATE TESTING Texas City ISD fully respects and acknowledges requests to have students opt out of STAAR testing; however, under state and federal laws, the district is unable to honor this type of request because it is not an option offered in Texas.
You can opt-out by informing the school that you intend to refuse the STAAR assessment by email or letter. Opt out Letter in English and Carta de Opt Out en espaol. Inform the school to move your child to a non-tested grade level classroom for each first day of a STAAR administration.
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.
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.
"There is no parental opt-out for STAAR assessments. Federal and state laws require that all eligible students participate in STAAR.
The Case for Opting Out If testing causes your child undue stress, or your child has an issue such as dyslexia that makes a timed test a living nightmare, then putting your child through testing feels like cold, hard punishment that they don't deserve. My feeling? Opt them out.
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.