PARCC Opt Out - 7th grader?

The HS has been pretty up front about who can opt out of the PARCC based on graduation year, but haven't heard anything from MMS.

Does anyone know the story there? I'd like to opt the kid out of PARCC as it is pointless.

We opted out in HS. You need the exact legal wording.

If your child is taking Algebra I in Middle School (7th or 8th grade), they will need to take and pass the Algebra I PARCC as part of their graduation requirements.

From NJ DOE website:

http://www.nj.gov/education/assessment/parents/GradReq.pdf

The Class of 2021 and Beyond [Current Middle schoolers] – Starting with the Class of 2021, students will only have two pathways to meet the high school graduation assessments requirements:

(1) Pass the ELA 10 and Algebra 1 assessments; or
(2) The submission by the district of a student portfolio through the Department’s portfolio appeals process, assuming the student has taken all PARCC assessments associated with the high-school level courses for which they were eligible* and receives valid scores.

If you would like to encourage the NJ State Senate to end the use of PARCC testing for graduation please contact your State Senators: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp

The bill passed through the Assembly but no vote is yet scheduled in the Senate.

http://www.nj.com/education/2017/03/nj_parcc_graduation_requirement.html

It is a biased source, but here is the NJEA summary of the situation

https://www.njea.org/issues/high-stakes-testing/njea-members-mobilize-pass-parcc-measure/

FYI - for middle schoolers, they can opt out without issue. Just contact the school. (Except if they are in Algebra I).

As it stands now, they will need to take it in HS as a graduation requirement.

Our youngest is now a sophomore, but when he was at SOMS, I opted him out in the 8th grade and a teacher-friend helped me with the wording in order to do it. The HS he was attending was not interested in PARCC scores nor participated in PARCC or the other standardized tests we subjected them too and I thought it was unnecessary.

Parent's must do what they feel is best and right for their children. Some parents agree with PARCC and of course some don't. My son has always done well in school and at his HS is an honor roll kid. I simply couldn't see the sense in him taking a test which was, at the time, poorly explained, poorly implemented and chaotic (in the 7th grade they took the test on the wrong day - I was done being a team player after that huge mix up).

The problem is that the PARCC is on its way to becoming a required test. The PARCC has to be stopped in Trenton.

kibbegirl said:

Our youngest is now a sophomore, but when he was at SOMS, I opted him out in the 8th grade and a teacher-friend helped me with the wording in order to do it. The HS he was attending was not interested in PARCC scores nor participated in PARCC or the other standardized tests we subjected them too and I thought it was unnecessary.

Parent's must do what they feel is best and right for their children. Some parents agree with PARCC and of course some don't. My son has always done well in school and at his HS is an honor roll kid. I simply couldn't see the sense in him taking a test which was, at the time, poorly explained, poorly implemented and chaotic (in the 7th grade they took the test on the wrong day - I was done being a team player after that huge mix up).

@tjohn...I didn't realize it was becoming required until reading this post. He doesn't attend the public HS so the only thing his school requires other than the entrance exam is participation in practice ACT and SAT. IMO, there is wayyyyy too much testing going on when really the other tests that matter are the two above. How do we stop it in Trenton? Is there a petition?

@kibbegirl...we are considering sending our currently seventh grader to a private high school for similar concerns mind if I ask what school does your child attend? Thanks.

Amused said:

@kibbegirl...we are considering sending our currently seventh grader to a private high school for similar concerns mind if I ask what school does your child attend? Thanks.

I will PM you.