Title: Fact Sheet 21-4: Facts for Parents on Opting Out of State Tests
Headings: Fact Sheet 21-4: Facts for Parents on Opting Out of State Tests For 2020-21
Fact Sheet 21-4: Facts for Parents on Opting Out of State Tests For 2020-21
HOW DO YOU OPT YOUR CHILD OUT OF THE STATE TESTS
FEDERAL REQUIREMENT FOR TESTING
CONSEQUENCES OF OPT-OUTS

Content: SED has encouraged districts to consider student’s social emotional needs as the highest priority during the pandemic and not to focus on high-stakes tests. The State will not withhold aid from schools or divert school improvement funds because of participation rates on the state tests. Unfortunately, some Superintendents may still feel compelled to encourage students to take the tests to improve participation rates. Especially those that have schools previously identified as low performing or that have corrective action plans because of high opt out rates in prior years. Although originally intended to evaluate programs, the assessments are used by some districts as one of the criteria for placement decisions and by the state to determine whether or not a student should receive Academic Intervention services (AIS). Schools must use multiple measures in making such determinations. Actions by the state Legislature and Board of Regents have minimized how the assessments can be used. Parents should ask to review the district policies for how students that opt-out will be evaluated for both AIS and placement in advanced courses. Additional details are available in the NYSUT Fact Sheet Opting Out of State Tests on the nysut.org web site. [1] ESSA also requires statewide assessments in ELA and math once in high school and grade span testing in science.