Pennsylvania Opt Out Guide January 3 2015

8/10/2019 Pennsylvania Opt Out Guide January 3 2015

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State by state template created by UOO, http://unitedoptout.com

Testing opt-out/Refusal guide for Pennsylvania

Form completed by Alison McDowellSpecial thanks to Yinzercation for their amazing website which served as the source for much of

the information in this guide: https: yinzercation!wordpress!com

"ontact information #email$: Alison McDowell at alison!mcdowell%gmail!comor &'' adminMorna McDermott at unitedoptoutnational%gmail!com

List of assessments

(ennsylvania System of School Assessment #(SSA$ includes assessments in )nglish *anguageArts and Mathematics that are taken by students in grades +, -, ., /, 0 and 1! Students in grades -and 1 are also administered the Science (SSA! 2he )nglish *anguage Arts and Mathematics(SSAs include items that are consistent with the Assessment Anchors)ligible "ontent aligned tothe (ennsylvania "ommon "ore Standards in )nglish *anguage Arts and Mathematics! 2he

Science (SSA includes items that are aligned to the Assessment Anchors)ligible "ontentaligned to the (ennsylvania Academic Standards for Science, 2echnology, )nvironment and)cology!

3eystone )4ams are end5of6course assessments in designated content areas! 2he 3eystone)4ams serve two purposes: #7$ high school accountability assessments for federal and statepurposes, and #8$ high school graduation re9uirements for students beginning with the class of870! 2he Algebra ; and *iterature 3eystone )4ams include items written to the AssessmentAnchors)ligible "ontent aligned to the (ennsylvania "ommon "ore Standards in Mathematicsand )nglish *anguage Arts! 2he


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Starting with the class of 870, a score of proficient or advanced on all three 3eystone e4amswill be re9uired for a (ennsylvania student enrolled in public school to graduate! "hapter - ofthe school code will allow for an opt6out, but instead re9uire a pro?ect6based high stakes testrather than your usual test, and courses teaching specifically to the test may also be re9uired!

(SSA tests administered in the spring of 87. will be aligned with the new (A "ore Standards!

Steps for refusing standardized testing (other than Keystones!

@ow to 'pt 'ut of the (SSAs

S2)( 7: (arent write letteremail to the superintendent or principal their intent to opt out!

Dear Superintendent:(ursuant to (ennsylvania "ode 2itle 88 "hapter -, section -!- #d$#.$ ; am hereby e4ercising myright as a parent to have my child, B CAM) , e4cused from (SSA testing because of religious

and philosophical beliefs!Sincerely,

S2)( 8: (arent reviews test at school2wo weeks prior to the testing window, e4ams must be made available for review by parents andguardians! Districts must provide a convenient time for the review! (arents and guardians willneed sign the (arent "onfidentiality Agreement that simply states they will not share what is onthe test with anyone!

S2)( +: (arent provides written re9uest for their child to be e4cused from test to thesuperintendent or principal stating that that you reviewed the e4am! 2his letter can be submittedat the time of the review or mailed soon after!

Dear Superintendent:'n BDA2) ; had the opportunity to review the (SSA test and pursuant to (ennsylvania "ode2itle 88 "hapter -, section -!- #d$#.$ ; am hereby e4ercising my right as a parent to have mychild, BCAM), e4cused from (SSA testing because of religious and philosophical beliefs!Sincerely,

S2)( -: Superintendent reviews the re9uest 6 this re9uest cannot be denied!;f the student is e4cused from the state assessment due to parental or guardian re9uest, schoolpersonnel must provide an alternative learning environment for the student during the assessmentand complete the ECon6Assessed Students grid by selecting EStudent had a parental re9uest fore4clusion from the assessment!

(arents can opt their children out of the (SSAs at any time during the school year, and within 8weeks prior to test date! 'ne benefit to opting out in the beginning of the school year is thatparents can also opt their children out of Study ;sland and "D2s, which are (SSA test prep! 2odo this, email or write a letter to school principal andor teachers!

2his is not a legal document! ;t is for informational purposes only!>uide revised 78!1!87-


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3eystone e4ams may be opted out of in the same manner as the (SSAs #see above$! "urrently,there is a pro?ect6based assessment #(


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Students can attend school on testing days! 2he state and district cannot refuse to admit a non6test6taking student! "hildren may be re9uired to be outside the classroom in a library or otherspace and engage in 9uiet activities! ;n some cases parents pick their child up during the testingwindow and bring them back later in the day after testing is complete!

$mportant";t is illegal for officials to ask for information about the nature of your religious beliefs or faith!2hey cannot ask for Eproof of your beliefs #e!g! a letter from your minister, rabbi, or imam$!2hey cannot threaten you or your child for e4ercising this right, nor can they impose punitivemeasures on your child for your decision to refuse the test!

Refusing Keystone %&ams

3eystone e4ams are not a graduation re9uirement for the class of 87. or 87/! Some parents in(ennsylvania have successfully refused these e4ams for some students in those grades! (assingall three 3eystone e4ams does, however, become a re9uirement starting with the "lass of 870!

;n many cases students are placed in remedial classes after receiving a failing score on the3eystone e4am, although how students are Eremediated is not codified by the state, and eachschool district is left to its own devices on how that should be done! 2here are parents withreceptive school administrators who have removed their children from remedial classes uponre9uest!

A student #other than a member of the classes of 87. or 87/$ whose parent refuses the3eystone e4am is re9uired to complete a (ro?ect


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these efforts, contact Alison McDowell at optoutphilly%gmail!com! 2he statewide averagepassing rates for the 87- 3eystone scores are as follows: -I algebra, -8I biology, and .+I)nglish! 8I or fewer passed on their second try! ;f we dont overturn this legislatively or in thecourts, within two years roughly half of the (ennsylvanias seniors will not be allowed tograduate even if they have met all other re9uirements of their district!

Dinninmans FAJ on why he opposes the 3eystones can be found here:http:www!senatordinniman!comwp6contentuploads87+771=easonsAgainst3eystones!pdf

2he =adnor *eague of Gomen voters held a forum on 3eystone e4ams this fall! ;t is a two6hourvideo, but contains a wealth of information about the impact of these e4ams on schools and highschool students in our state! https:www!youtube!comwatchKvLDDw@Mi17a'

'rgency for opt-out/refusal

@igh Stakes 2esting

;s not scientifically6based and fails to follow the &!S! >overnmentNs own data on

learning!

Fosters test driven education that is not meeting the individualintellectual needs of

students!

(resents a racial and economic bias that is beneficial to white middleupper class students

and detrimental to second language students, impoverished students, and students ofcolor!

;s in opposition to the corrective action in gaps in opportunity and resources sanctionedby the Fiscal Fairness Act!

Supports complicity of corporate interests rather than democracy based on public

concerns!

Fosters coercion over cooperation with regards to federal funding for public education!

(romotes a culture of lying, cheating, and e4ploitation within the school community!

@as used the achievement gap to foster a Ede facto segregation that has resulted in

separate and une9ual education for minorities!

Additionally, data collection of studentNs private information cannot be guaranteed

security or that it will not be abused in some way by third party entities!

mailto:[email protected]://www.senatordinniman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/8ReasonsAgainstKeystones.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDwHMi81aO0mailto:[email protected]://www.senatordinniman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/8ReasonsAgainstKeystones.pdfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDwHMi81aO0


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*owpoor test scores, which are likely to occur with more fre9uency with "ommon "ore and(A="" will be used to fire teachers, create more online learning scenarios even in elementaryschools, and close more public schools to be replaced with for profit charter schools!

urrent P) Standardized Testing ontracts

2he "apitol Gire August 88, 87- shared the following information regarding a new .6yearcontract issued for standardized testing #(SSAs and 3eystones$ by the state:

E


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After consulting with attorneys at the Southern (overty *aw "enter, speaking with the Directorof the


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community including priests, going down to help the people in )l Salvador, even after si4 priestswere assassinated by right wing death s9uads! 2hats my religious and educational tradition!

; know that everyone is terrified of a school failing to make AY(! uide revised 78!1!87-


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?udged! Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned! C"*< and (SSAs are designede4clusively to ?udge and condemn children, teachers, schools, and communities! Ge refuse tocontinue to take part in this pernicious system! Ge are also trying to teach our son to be open tothe possibilities that PothersP sometimes have different values or ways of seeing the world! Gedo not want him to ?udge others for their differences! Ge hope that one day our son will

recognize differences in others and value and celebrate those differences! C"*< and (SSAsforce children, teachers, and schools to devalue differences!

Ge also believe in the )thic of =eciprocity or the >olden =ule 66 we are to treat other people aswe would wish to be treated ourselves! As a family, our belief in the >olden =ule encourages usto help our son learn the value of fairness! Ge want him to treat others fairly and we hope that hewill in turn e4pect others to treat him fairly! C"*< and (SSAs have been demonstrated to nottreat differences in children fairly! 2hey fail to recognize the multiple intelligences present in allchildren! C"*< and (SSAs discriminate against students from lower socio6economic conditionsand unfairly penalize students with special education needs!

)ven though the &nited Cations is not a religious organization we also would like the school tounderstand that C"*< and (SSAs violate certain articles of the &niversal Declaration of @uman=ights

Article 71! )veryone has the right to freedom of thought! C"*< and (SSAs prescribesthoughtlessness and punishes children that e4periment with their curiosity or try to e4plain theirlearning in ways that canNt be measured by standardized tests!Article 8/! )ducation shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and tothe strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms! ;t shall promoteunderstanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups!

C"*< and (SSAs narrow the schoolNs curriculum and therefore deprives children of the right

e4plore the possibilities for learning in the many disciplines that have either been shortened oroutright eliminated from the curriculum! For e4ample, if science and social studies are neglectedhow will children learn about the scientific nature of the world and learn to appreciate and valuethe vast cultures on this planetK

;n summary and respect, we would like you to permit our son to Popt outP of C"*< and (SSAtesting this school year for the religious and cultural reasons stated above!

Sincerely,

#;nsert your name here$!

From:http:www!huffingtonpost!com!!!

Letter 0

Dear #school principal$,

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-d-slekar/do-not-judge-do-not-conde_b_828770.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-d-slekar/do-not-judge-do-not-conde_b_828770.html


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Ge, the parents of #childs name$, an #K$ grade student enrolled at #school name$, are writing tostate that standardized testing is against our religious and philosophical beliefs! Ge will berefusing all standardized testing for #childs name$ during the upcoming school year!

'ur refusal includes, but is not limited to, the )nglish, math, science, and writing (SSAsQ

benchmark testingQ "D2 #"lassroom Diagnostic 2ools$ testingQ any tests associated with (UAASteacher evaluationsQ CA)( testingQ as well as field testing of standardized test items!

Ge realize that we may be re9uired to come in and review the testing materials and reconfirmour decision to refuse the tests! ;n that event, we re9uest that you contact us at least two weeksprior to their scheduled administration so that we may set a time to do the review and completethat process! Ge can be reached at the phone number and emails provided above! During timesin which standardized tests are being administered or standardized test preparation e4ercises aretaking place, please allow #childs name$ to pursue alternate educational activities such asindependent reading, a research pro?ect, or volunteering in the library!

; hope you understand that it is not our intent to harm #school name$ or its staff! Ge hold theschool and its teachers in high regard, and for that reason we are taking a stand against damagingpolicies that use high6stakes test scores for purposes for which they were never intended! Suchpurposes include: rating teachers, closing or turning schools over to private management, andwithholding diplomas from students who have otherwise earned them! @igh6stakes standardizedtests also pose significant problems for students not fluent in )nglish and those withindividualized education plans!

Ge believe in a broad curriculum that supports the individual needs of children and helps themdevelop their talents to become critical thinkers and contributors to a more ?ust and democraticsociety! ;t is incomprehensible to us that during times of such austerity, when schools cannoteven afford current te4tbooks, (hiladelphias students are being ranked and sorted againstchildren in affluent districts who have every advantage! ;t is a broken and corrupt system, andour conscience will not permit us to have our child be a part of it any longer!

(lease let us know if we need to be in touch with her teachers individually, or if that is somethingyou will do in your capacity as principal! Ge would appreciate it if you could provide a writtenconfirmation that you have received this letter! 2hank you for your attention to this matter!

Sincerely,

(arent Cames

Resources and organizations

Yinzercation! 2heir website http:yinzercation!wordpress!comresourcesprovides the followingresources:

AVSchools: working for e9uity in (ittsburgh (ublic schools

http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/resources/http://www.aplusschools.org/index_current.shtmlhttp://yinzercation.wordpress.com/resources/http://www.aplusschools.org/index_current.shtml


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(;;C #(ennsylvania ;nterfaith ;mpact Cetwork$:large congregation based coalition with a focus

on e9uity in education

2!)!A!"!@!#2ell )veryone All "uts @urt$: a grassroots group of teachers, students, parents and

community members fighting for public education in the Steel Ualley

(&=) =eform: organized in 81 by parents to discuss (ittsburghs reform plans

F&S): Gilkinsburg after school program with a focus on literacy and student6advocacy

Youth Media Advocacy (ro?ect: "arlow &niversity students partner with local @igh School

students in issues of education policy

@ear Me: a media advocacy pro?ect of "arnegie Mellon &niversity amplifying kids own voices

)ducation Uoters (A: A .7#c$#-$ lobbying group representing the political and electoral interestsof public education supporters

3eystone State )ducation "oalition: a grassroots group that started as a coalition of school board

members advocating for public educationQ *awrence Feinberg publishes an e4cellent daily

e4tract of public education news!

(arents &nited for (ublic )ducation: (hiladelphia parents and community members fighting for

public schools

)ducation Matters in the "umberland Ualley: a grassroots group of public education advocates inthe middle part of the state

Save &pper Darby Arts: a grassroots group ?ust outside of (hiladelphia that successfully fought

budget cuts to their arts programs in 878 and are now working on broader public education

advocacy

2aking =oot (A: a new parent6led organization in *ancaster "ounty focused on restoring a full,

rich curriculum to public schools there!

)ducation (olicy and *eadership "enter: working on state6level policies for sustainable ande9uitable funding

(ennsylvania


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(A School 2alk: a statewide conversation site on public education, sponsored by the )ducation

*aw "enter

Save (ennsylvanias Schools: a pro?ect of the (ennsylvania State )ducation Association, which

represents educators! 2his site has some great data on school budget cuts listed by district across

the state!

(ennsylvania School Funding "ampaign: coalition of + statewide groups advocating for public

education

Alliance for (hiladelphia (ublic Schools: https:www!facebook!com(hillyapps

http:appsphilly!wikispaces!com

#'pt 'ut (hilly is a committee of A((S optoutphilly%gmail!com$

"aucus of Gorking )ducators #"aucus of G)$: http:www!workingeducators!org

State specific atch-list

Students First6(A http:www!studentsfirst!orgpagespennsylvanias6plan6for6education6reform

(A "oalition of (ublic "harter Schools http:pacharters!org

(ennsylvania "hamber of ood newsW A big win against testing frenzy in (ittsburgh

Gith more than 80 tests in (ittsburgh schools this year, when is enough enoughK

A teachers troubling account of giving a 7/69uestion standardized test to 77 year olds

Ghy ; wont let my son take the (SSA

http://paschooltalk.org/http://savepaschools.org/default.aspxhttp://www.psea.org/http://www.paschoolfunding.org/https://www.facebook.com/Phillyappshttp://appsphilly.wikispaces.com/http://www.workingeducators.org/http://www.studentsfirst.org/pages/pennsylvanias-plan-for-education-reformhttp://pacharters.org/http://www.philaschoolpartnership.org/http://penncan.org/http://phillyplus.org/http://cityofphiladelphia.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/great-schools-compact/http://cityofphiladelphia.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/great-schools-compact/http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/09/15/Pittsburgh-s-reduction-in-student-tests-wins-applause/stories/201409150007http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/09/09/Pittsburgh-schools-to-make-big-cuts-in-testing/stories/201409090234http://dianeravitch.net/2014/09/11/good-news-a-big-win-against-testing-frenzy-in-pittsburgh/http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2013/11/03/With-more-than-270-tests-at-Pittsburgh-schools-this-year-when-is-enough-enough/stories/201311030067http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/10/06/a-teachers-troubling-account-of-giving-a-106-question-standardized-test-to-11-year-olds/http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2013/03/31/Why-I-won-t-let-my-son-take-the-PSSA/stories/201303310221http://paschooltalk.org/http://savepaschools.org/default.aspxhttp://www.psea.org/http://www.paschoolfunding.org/https://www.facebook.com/Phillyappshttp://appsphilly.wikispaces.com/http://www.workingeducators.org/http://www.studentsfirst.org/pages/pennsylvanias-plan-for-education-reformhttp://pacharters.org/http://www.philaschoolpartnership.org/http://penncan.org/http://phillyplus.org/http://cityofphiladelphia.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/great-schools-compact/http://cityofphiladelphia.wordpress.com/2014/01/17/great-schools-compact/http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/09/15/Pittsburgh-s-reduction-in-student-tests-wins-applause/stories/201409150007http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2014/09/09/Pittsburgh-schools-to-make-big-cuts-in-testing/stories/201409090234http://dianeravitch.net/2014/09/11/good-news-a-big-win-against-testing-frenzy-in-pittsburgh/http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2013/11/03/With-more-than-270-tests-at-Pittsburgh-schools-this-year-when-is-enough-enough/stories/201311030067http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/10/06/a-teachers-troubling-account-of-giving-a-106-question-standardized-test-to-11-year-olds/http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/Op-Ed/2013/03/31/Why-I-won-t-let-my-son-take-the-PSSA/stories/201303310221


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(arents oppose (SSA standardized tests in (ennsylvania

(hilly mom talks about Eopting out of state standardized tests

Some parents Eopt out kids from standardized tests

You cant e4pect much success on standardized tests when students dont even have basicsupplies

2ake emphasis off state tests

Some parents having their children opt out of (SSA e4ams

(ottsville native co6directs documentary on standardized testing in schools


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@ow does high6stakes testing affect our schoolsK

EMillions Spent, Co =esultsE: dramatic e4pansion of testing costs schools millions

EFrom AY( to S((E: why rating schools is Stupid (ublic (olicy

E)ight =easons Ghy Scoring Schools Doesnt GorkE: new (A School (erformance (rofile

Ghat are some of the high6stakes for teachersK

E2he UAM ShamE: concerns about using student test scores to evaluate teacher performance

@ow can we work together to reduce high6stakes testing and promote more learningK

EStrategies to =educe @igh Stakes 2estingE: ways we can work together

;nvitation to community conversationand (ittsburghs only screening of the new movie,EStandardized

E'pt 'ut FAJs

E2imes &pE: overview of 87+ opt out movement, with links to resources

EGhos ;n to 'pt 'utKE: highlights of 87+ national opt out efforts

Additional resources:

Fact Sheet on 'pting 'ut#prepared by the )ducation *aw "enter, March 87-$

'pt 'ut SG (A facebook page

'pt 'ut of State Standardized 2ests 5 (ennsylvaniafacebook page

2esting =esistance X =eform Spring#new 87- national action site$

&nited 'pt 'ut#national organization$

Fair 2est#national organization$

(A School 2alk, testing forum#run by )ducation *aw "enter, (hiladelphia$

((S Assessment "alendar#how many tests are your children taking this yearK$

http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/millions-spent-no-results/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/from-ayp-to-spp/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/eight-reasons-why-scoring-schools-doesnt-work/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/the-vam-sham/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/strategies-to-reduce-high-stakes-testing/https://www.facebook.com/events/501661279944627/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/opt-out-faqs/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/times-up/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/whos-in-to-opt-out/http://www.elc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ELC_FactSheet_TestingOptOut_March2014.pdfhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/291863714271723/https://www.facebook.com/groups/OptOutPennsylvania/http://tinyurl.com/TestingReformSpringhttp://unitedoptout.com/a-how-to-on-opting-out-in-pennsylvania-2/http://www.fairtest.org/get-involved/opting-outhttp://paschooltalk.org/forum/topics/opting-out-of-pa-keystone-exams?commentId=3978284%3AComment%3A27707https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwHydmYY4leQTUxGQTA3VEtNTEk/edit?usp=sharinghttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwHydmYY4leQTUxGQTA3VEtNTEk/edit?usp=sharinghttp://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/millions-spent-no-results/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/from-ayp-to-spp/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/10/07/eight-reasons-why-scoring-schools-doesnt-work/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/the-vam-sham/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2014/03/11/strategies-to-reduce-high-stakes-testing/https://www.facebook.com/events/501661279944627/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/opt-out-faqs/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/times-up/http://yinzercation.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/whos-in-to-opt-out/http://www.elc-pa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/ELC_FactSheet_TestingOptOut_March2014.pdfhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/291863714271723/https://www.facebook.com/groups/OptOutPennsylvania/http://tinyurl.com/TestingReformSpringhttp://unitedoptout.com/a-how-to-on-opting-out-in-pennsylvania-2/http://www.fairtest.org/get-involved/opting-outhttp://paschooltalk.org/forum/topics/opting-out-of-pa-keystone-exams?commentId=3978284%3AComment%3A27707https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwHydmYY4leQTUxGQTA3VEtNTEk/edit?usp=sharing

Documents

Pennsylvania Opt Out Guide January 3 2015