Fwd: testing and opt-out rights

[Susan Harman <susanharman@igc.org>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: monty@fairtest.org
> Date: Tue Aug 21, 2007  3:55:21 PM US/Pacific
> To: Susan Harman <susanharman@igc.org>
> Subject: Re: Fwd: [ca-resisters] testing and opt-out rights
>
> I know of no federal law or regs guaranteeing right to opt out of  
> testing. If it were at all clear on that, I think people would have  
> been using it. Their may be privacy rights or something one could try  
> to make a case with, but I do not know anyone who has tried. I am also  
> not an attorney.
>
> Efforts to use courts to block grad tests have tried and failed in 4  
> states I know of - FL (where a delay was one); TX, where a  
> well-developed case brought by MALDEF lost; MA, where efforts at a  
> preliminary injunction failed; and CA where kids with disabilities got  
> a reprieve but the general class lost (the Public Advocates case and  
> the other larger case brought by a private attorney on a pro bono  
> basis). So I am not hopeful that we can win in the courts on this.
>
> YOu can forward this to the list.
>
> Monty
>
> Quoting Susan Harman <susanharman@igc.org>:
>
> > Do you know?
> >
> > Begin forwarded message:
> >
> > > From: Peter Farruggio <pfarr@cal.berkeley.edu>
> > > Date: Tue Aug 21, 2007  11:46:58 AM US/Pacific
> > > To: LiteracyForAll@yahoogroups.com
> > > Cc: arn-l@interversity.org,ca-resisters@interversity.org
> > > Subject: [ca-resisters] testing and opt-out rights
> > > Reply-To: ca-resisters@interversity.org
> > >
> > >
> > > 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
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
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> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
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