STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The parents' opt-out movement -- to keep their children from taking the annual New York State standardized tests in math and language arts -- gained endorsements Tuesday from the presidents of two influential teachers' unions. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers -- the parent union of the UFT -- Tweeted that if...
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The parents' opt-out movement -- to keep their children from taking the annual New York State standardized tests in math and language arts -- gained endorsements Tuesday from the presidents of two influential teachers' unions.
Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers -- the parent union of the UFT -- Tweeted that if she were a parent of school-age children, she would opt them out of state testing:
To clarify: Several pple asked what I'd do if I had schl age kids-based on what I've seen this year, I wld opt them out of NY Pearson tests.
-- Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) March 31, 2015
Meanwhile the president of the statewide teachers' union also urged parents to forgo the exams.
"I am saying that I would urge parents at this point in time to opt out of testing," New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) President Karen Magee said in an Albany radio interview.
The union has provided information on its website for parents about their right to keep their children from taking the exams.
'TERRIBLE MISTAKE'
But state Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch countered, telling parents who opt to keep their children from taking the exams that they would be "making a terrible mistake."
"I believe that test refusal is a terrible mistake because it eliminates important information about how our kids are doing," Ms. Tisch said in a statement. She said, however, that neither the state, nor local school districts -- including the city's Department of Education -- can "force" students to sit for the exams.
Last year up to 60,000 students opted out of the test statewide, including about 2,000 from city public schools.
Students from third through eighth grade are set to take the exams when they return from the Easter/Passover break. The tests are used to rate teachers and schools, as well as track student progress.
Community Education President Michael Reilly explained on his Facebook page that this year he and his wife will opt out of having their three children take the New York State exams in English Language Arts and mathematics. Staten Island Community Education Council President Michael Reilly said that he and his wife decided that this year their three children will not be taking the exams.
"I believe in tests, but I don't believe in the way the state uses these tests, and the way they compare data to draw conclusions," Reilly said.
"To get an accurate, credible comparison of scores and data from year to year, the variables would have to remain the same, and they don't," he said.
Reilly said the state, along with testing giant Pearson, present different exams of different material, and "manipulate" questions and scoring, making it impossible to accurately compare data and scores from year-to-year.
"One year the kids will need to get 27 out of 30 questions right, and the next year it may only be 24."
"To get an accurate, credible comparison of scores and data from year to year, the the variables would have to remain the same, and they don't," he said.
CEC FORUM
About four dozen parents turned out Monday night at New Dorp High School for an opt-out information forum sponsored by the CEC and the Staten Island Federation of Parent-Teacher Associations.
"We are not endorsing the opt-out movement, but parents should have the information they need to make an informed decision," Reilly said. "There is a lot of misinformation going around."
For example, he said, parents may think if they opt out of the tests they need to keep their children home from school during testing.
"You don't have to keep your child home, and you shouldn't," he said. "Each school has to make every effort to provide alternative educational activities, such as worksheets or reading, for students who are not taking the test."
Also, he said, students will not have to make up the tests by taking alternative exams.
The English language assessment exam is scheduled to be given April 14 through 16, while the math assessment exam is scheduled for April 22 though 24. Make-up exams are scheduled for the week of April 27.
(Parents, will you opt-out of having your children take the state exams? We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think about the exams and the opt-out movement in the comment section below.)