Some brave teachers, who are also Moms & Dads, have made the difficult choice to defy their district administration and the TN Department of Education.  These teachers have REFUSED testing for their OWN children.  Teachers are required by the state and district to administer the tests to students in their classes.  However, the state and district cannot trump their parental rights to do what is best for their own children.


Why did they do it?  One teacher tells why...
As a teacher, I made a decision for my own children, as their parent. I am most fortunate to be very involved in my children's education. I'm sure most parents feel the exact same way. Unless you are a teacher, you really aren't as involved as you think you are. I teach for the same system my children are educated in. I know things that I'm grateful to know, but at the same time the wind is often knocked clean out of me because of what I know. Because of what I know, I chose to opt my children out of unnecessary testing.

• I chose to opt my children out of computerized testing as a means of determining intervention needs.
• I opted my children out of tests that contain material they haven't been taught yet according to the curriculum maps teachers follow.
• I opted my children out of tests written for the sole purpose of assisting the developers of PARCC test which will replace TCAP next school year.
• I opted my children out of feelings of failure when material is placed in front of them that they haven't been exposed to yet, in the form of a test. I opted their teachers out of feelings of betrayal because that's how we feel when we do this to the children we teach.
• I opted my children out of the DEA, given three times per year as a predictive measure to determine how they might perform on TCAP. The DEA is also full of skills not introduced according to the curriculum maps. Test A - 18 of 32 skills not introduced yet. Test B - 19 of 32 skills not introduced yet.  
• I opted my children out of the CRA which is an assessment used for the sole purpose of assisting the developers of PARCC, and is written in a form that children are not capable of being successful on.
• I opted my children out the practice writing assessment for the practice writing assessment which I opted them out of too. Really? Practice for practice? Not to mention, it is computerized and children as young as 8 are expected to sit at a computer for two hours to analyze informational texts and write an essay through typing their responses. Our children do not know how to type.
• I opted my children out of IStation computerized testing to determine if they have a need for intervention.
• I opted my children out of all computerized programs designed to determine their needs. I chose to leave that up to their highly qualified teachers. 

As a teacher, I must endure the guilt and shame I feel each time I test my students on material they haven't been yet exposed. As a parent, I will not tolerate such with my children.
- A teacher and mother in Shelby County
 

How did they do it?
It is simple.  These brave parents simply sent letters and emails of refusal  to their sons' and daughters' teachers and principals stating that they will not allow their child to take the tests. (Note the wording says "refusal" and not "opt-out" since TN does not have an "opt-out" law, yet, and the attorney general seems to be forcing parents into testing their children against their wishes by saying it is not "legal" to "opt-out")

Some states have laws and policies that allow parents to opt their children out.  Tennessee does not.  Yet...  
There is currently a Bill in the Legislature that, if it passes, would allow parents to legally Opt-Out of testing for their children without penalties (HB 1841 / SB 2221) .  The Bill's sponsor, Rep. Gloria Johnson, is also a teacher.  (Unfortunately, a half a BILLION dollar fiscal note has been attached to the bill, and the bill has been rolled to the final calendar to prevent it from passing.  Contact Governor Haslam if you're not happy about that.  His phone # is 615-741-2001 and his email is: bill.haslam@tn.gov). 

What are the repercussions of REFUSING tests?
In TN, refusing or opting a child out of the TCAP test counts as a zero on the child's final report card (state mandated 15%-25%).  In some districts, this means that 10% of a child's final English grade will be a zero, and 10% of a child's final Math grade will be a zero.  (Check with your local school district to find out).  Despite the lower report card grades, having to keep their children at home on testing days, and having unexcused absences on their child's records, parents feel strongly enough that the tests are inappropriate for their children to REFUSE the tests for their children.  
(This could work: Parents in other states have gotten around the testing by un-enrolling their children from school to "homeschool" before the mandated test and then re-enrolling them after the testing window is completed.  This method works to avoid hurting the child's report card grade and attendance, but, gosh, it sure is a hassle!)
 

Links to Opt-Out testing websites & groups:
United Opt-Out website
United Opt-Out in Tennessee website
Stop TN Testing website
Stop TN Testing Madness facebook group
Stop TN Testing facebook page
Knox County Parents Against Testing facebook page
Williamson County Parents Concerned about Common Core & Testing facebook group

 
These brave teachers and parents are sending a clear message that they do not agree with the tests and that their child is more than a test score.

 

We have heard from numerous Tennessee parents since we posted about the CRA test. [The Constructed Response Assessment (CRA) is a state-mandated test made up of math word problems given to grades 3-12 in “preparation” for Common Core testing that will begin in 2015.]  Here is what some parents and teachers in TN said about how the CRA has affected their children and classmates: 

• I would like to send out a big congratulations to the TN Dept of Education for making a bunch of elementary kids cry at school today! Today my 3rd grader was given a state test (some kind of pre-common core evaluation) she was so over whelmed by it that she broke down crying in the middle of the test. 4 of the 19 kids in her class did the same thing and only one actually finished the four question test (it took her 45 min). The test covered things they have not even talked about in class! What 3rd grader knows how to figure AREA?!?
  The next day I meet with the superintendent to express my concerns and find out why this test was given in the first place. She told me that the test was optional for the district to give and this year they were only giving it once instead of 3 times like the previous year. The reasoning behind giving the test in the first place was to "introduce the students to this type of testing, since they have not experienced it before." I understood that but why my it so difficult? Teaching children how to take a test with material that they have not even been taught yet is like teaching a child to ride a bicycle by putting them on a morotcycle. It's just crazy! 
  I have been able to see a copy of the test my daughter took. It was insane! I let my coworkers read through it and it took them a few times reading it to even understand the questions. The questions are POORLY worded and the subject matter has not (and in some cases will not) be covered in the classroom yet.
  It is obvious from seeing the test that our TN Dept of Education is trying to set our kids up for failure! No wonder they don't want parents to see these tests, because if more parents could actually see the CRAs their child is given, there would be a mass out-crying and complete OPTING OUT!!! The scary thing about the CRA is that it's a preview to the PARCC test. We need to fight this now!
  
  
• My child took the CRA tests last year in 5th grade (we are in Shelby County, TN). She is an APEX level straight A student, but she came home crying. She was devastated that she had failed the 4 question math test. She had not been taught how to do fractions on a number line, but the teachers had to give the CRA anyway. Why waste valuable learning time, precious teacher hours, and scarce education dollars to stress children to the point of tears? This is so wrong! I opted my children out of all asessments and surveys this year. I feel sorry for the children whose parents can’t or won’t.
  

  

• My 1st grader cries most nights about being stressed about tests at school. Both girls don’t like school most of the time. This blog post is an eye opener!
  

 

• I teach first grade, and this year, we begin giving CRAs to 6 year olds. In fact, our first and second graders take their first CRAs this week. Testing is completely out of control in TN and throughout the country. Teachers have tried appealing to our counties and our state, but our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Parents, you have the power. We love and care about your children.. they are why we stay. But, you must stand up and take action. We will stand with you. My heart is heavy and sad for our education system and the great teachers we are losing daily. I am also looking at how long I will remain in the system.. it’s just not worth the stress. Opt out, attend Board Meetings, email the politicians, call your superintendents, vote in next year’s elections!! Bless you for speaking out. All of society will be affected, and our children’s education is at stake.
  

 
Click HERE to visit the StopTNtesting.com website to read more testimony from TN parents and teachers.
 

It is clear that the CRA test is an incredible waste of time and money, but, worst of all, it is cruel to our teachers and students. Which leaves us, once again, pondering these questions:

• Why does the DOE demand such things from our teachers?
• Why does the DOE purposely set our children up for failure?
• Why does the state legislature allow this to continue?
  
  

Please, put an end to this abusive test.  Tennessee parents & children are counting on you!  Thank you.