Opting Out of Standardized Testing

Testing mayhem is in full swing here in New Jersey.  From PARCC field tests to NJASKs to End-of-Course Biology exams, we are in the midst of the standardized testing season.  These tests are stressful.  They are exhausting.  And they are misused.  As a New Jersey educator, I struggle mightily to allay the fears and pressures on my ELA teachers whose students' test scores will contribute to their summative evaluation.  As a New Jersey parent, I grow frustrated by the time spent preparing my child to take these exams and the stress it causes her.

In my role as an educator, I do not have many options other than to inform and reassure teachers.  In my role as a parent, though, I can say "no."  And that is the decision my husband and I have made this year.  My child is not taking the NJ ASK.  Her school principal has been very understanding of the decision, which I truly appreciate and respect.  I hope if you decide to opt your child out of standardized testing, your school administrators offer you the same understanding that I have received.  Below is a slightly edited version of the opt-out letter we sent to my daughter's school.    

Dear School Principal,

We are writing to inform you that we are opting our daughter out of the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge test as is within our legal right as her parents.  Our choice to opt-out of the testing is not a reflection of our opinion about the school or the quality of education she receives there.  It is a response to our beliefs about the value of standardized testing, especially for children of such a young age.    

We do not believe the standardized testing provides any additional meaningful data about what our child knows or does not know.  Those assessment decisions are best made by the certified educators who assess her learning growth, her social development, and her well-being.  We are exasperated by the testing culture that pervades our communities and our schools.  We would rather our child spend those four mornings engaged in active learning experiences that connect her to the world in which we live, giving her the chance to explore new ideas and participate in problem-based learning opportunities rather than hunched over an exam booklet.      

Additionally, we have serious concerns about the effects that testing anxiety will have on our child (and others), especially since this pressure begins at such a young age.  While I know teachers often tell students not to worry about these tests, the frequent test preparation speaks much louder.  She has taken many tests this year to assess her skills.  We do not feel it necessary to subject her to one very lengthy, high-stakes exam that does not show us anything about her learning that we do not already know.

Our goal for our daughter's education has nothing to do with standardized test scores. We want her to love learning. We want her to find inspiration in an idea. We want her to love a book so much she can’t put it down. We want her to feel so compelled by an issue that she researches and writes about it tirelessly. We want her to see the joy and feel the challenge presented by increasingly complex numbers and data. These goals cannot be met when a state mandated standardized test is the means by which students, educators, and schools are evaluated. The tests distract parents, educators, and students from what learning should be. So, for now, we choose to honor that belief by having our child not participate in the NJ ASK.

Thank you for your time, your understanding and your consideration.

Sincerely,

Heather Rocco