New York City Parents: Protesting Standardized Tests – Ask to Opt Out!

Dear Commons Community,

Yesterday began the yearly spring ritual of high-stakes testing in schools across New York City and New York State.

The New York Daily News reported that in a backlash against these tests, some parents are keeping their kids home.  And 1,200 others have signed a petition asking for the state to provide a formal method for parents to opt out of testing in future years.

“It was a difficult decision, but I feel compelled to do something,” saidAndrea Mata, whose son Oscar, 8, won’t be filling out bubble sheets with his third-grade classmates at Public School 210 in Manhattan.

Mata called PS 210 a “wonderful school” but noted its dual language program no longer devotes an adequate amount of time to Spanish because of test pressure.”

Mata has a point in that too many of our schools have become test prep factories!

Tony

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