testing and opt-out rights

[Peter Farruggio <pfarr@cal.berkeley.edu>]

OK, here's a civil rights question.  Maybe somebody can consult a 
friendly lawyer who specializes in federal education law...

I thought that CA had the parental opt-out provision because such a 
right is guaranteed to families by federal law.  Regardless of 
whether a state has explicit language in its ed code to guarantee 
parents' right to refuse to have their child take an achievement 
test, can said state DENY this right?  And has this ever been tested 
in the courts?

As for recent graduation tests in high schools (exit exams), several 
states have laws or regulations that explicitly state that a student 
must pass the test in order to obtain a diploma, regardless of 
whether or not the student has met all other graduation requirements; 
but has THIS ever been tested in the courts?  Aren't there class 
action lawsuits in preparation somewhere about such denial of diplomas?

So, how much protection for parents is inherent in the Bill of 
Rights, Constitution, fedral case law,etc as far as their decision 
making rights for their children in the public ed system?  I know 
that states have already secured the right to mandate such things as 
required attendance in school for all minors and adherence to 
necessary behavior and discipline rules; but WHAT ABOUT ACHIEVEMENT TESTING????

This opt-out issue is a big one for us, because it can rally many 
more people to our cause.  The mandate that your child MUST take a 
test that has no connection to health and safety  smacks of 
bureaucratic authoritarianism (proto-fascism, too) and abuse of 
citizens' rights by big government.  Like a friendly "wedge issue" to 
sharpen the contradiction between politicians/corporate execs and 
regular folks, no?

Pete Farruggio


At 08:49 PM 8/20/2007, you wrote:

> Parents in CA can opt out of the tests, because its in the state
> testing law. In fact, CalCARE is launching a campaign for massive
> boycotts (by teachers) and optouts (by parents) for the spring. Enough,
> already.
> Youre in Nevada, though, right? Check your law. Also check with
> FairTest; they may have a list of states with optout provisions.
> Susan
>
> On Monday, August 20, 2007, at 05:32 PM, Georgia HEDRICK wrote:
>
> > Oh most wise ones!
> >
> >
> > I am reading the Law --as printed on Mother Margaret Spelling
> > Ed.govsite--and I am getting the impression that ONLY the NAEP test is
> > \u003cspan class\u003dq\>>the test\u003cbr /\>>that parents have the
> > right to opt out of. Am I correct?...and this is\u003cbr
> > /\>in\u003cbr /\>>SEC. 411 of NCLB.\u003cbr /\>>\u003cbr /\>>If a
> > District uses CRTs and not a standardized test, can kids be
> > mandated\u003cbr /\>\u003c/span\>\u003c/div\>",1] );
> > D(["mb","\u003cdiv style\u003d\"direction:ltr\"\>t\u003d\u003cbr
> > /\>>o\u003cbr /\>\u003c/div\>",1] ); //-->the test
> > that parents have the right to opt out of. Am I correct?...and this is
> > in
> > SEC. 411 of NCLB.
> >
> > If a District uses CRTs and not a standardized test, can kids be
> > mandated
> >
> > to pass that CRT test at 100 per cent by 2014?
> >
> > The section --411 again--says that all participation in the NAEP is to
> > be
> > voluntary. It says that parents are to be notified that any child can
> > be
> > excused from participation for any reason, is not required to finish
> > the
> > test once started and is not required to answer any test question.
> >
> > Under the same section it says that the info from the NAEP cannot be
> > used
> > for student promotion or graduation purposes. So, exactly what is the
> > NAEP?
> > Where is it? Who puts it out? Does the gov just randomly float around
> > the
> > country asking this or that school district to take it?
> >
> > So far, I cannot find a part in NCLB that says a kid can opt out of ANY
> > TEST--CRT OR OTHERWISE. Does anyone know a section where it says they
> > can
> > or is it limeted to the NAEP?
> >
> >
> > HELP=A1!!!!!!!!!! gh
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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