To the Editor:
My name is Daniel Wall and I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction with the way that Commissioner Gist and the Rhode Department of Education have handled the new …
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To the Editor:
My name is Daniel Wall and I am writing this letter to express my dissatisfaction with the way that Commissioner Gist and the Rhode Department of Education have handled the new PARCC testing. I am a parent, a teacher and a newly elected member of the Cranston School Committee. As a servant of the public, I feel that it is my duty to respond to the needs and the concerns of my constituency. With testing dates for the PARCC assessment rapidly approaching I have received numerous calls and inquiries regarding the PARCC assessment. One of the most pressing issues pertains to a parent’s legal right to “opt out” of the assessment. Let me be perfectly clear, at this late date these parents are not asking, “Should I ‘opt out’ of the PARCC?” They have made up their minds and they are now asking, “What are the procedures for opting out?”
Unfortunately, my efforts to retrieve clear answers from RIDE have proven to be fruitless and at times frustrating. I have attended public forums, had telephone conversations with RIDE representatives, and read the commissioner’s field notes or editorials. When questions about “opting out” of the PARCC come up, the questions are skillfully evaded and responded to with a dose the Department of Education’s rhetoric: “RIDE believes that the PARCC is a quality assessment;” “RIDE believes that all students should take the PARCC;” “RIDE has no formal ‘opt out’ or refusal policy.” It’s rarely mentioned that Rhode Island has no law that requires students to participate in the PARCC or any other state assessment. Instead, the information that is disseminated is presented in a manner that promotes the department’s philosophical belief in the importance of standardized testing. To put it plainly, RIDE would prefer that parents didn’t refuse to have to have their children take the assessment, so any information that would make that choice easier is conspicuously suppressed.
In spite of RIDE’s position on testing, there is a growing contingency of the public opposed to the PARCC assessment and the Common Core State Standards on which the test is based. But what is the reason, or reasons, for this opposition?
The issues are numerous and varied. Some are worried about the over-reliance on standardized testing that has narrowed educational focus and marginalized non-tested subject areas. Many are concerned that the PARCC is essentially still in its experimental stage, but may be used for high stakes decisions that could adversely affect schools and school districts. Parents are also worried that PARCC scores will be reported on students’ official transcripts and could potentially affect college admissions decisions. In addition, many parents are upset that student data could be made available to businesses for marketing purposes. There is also growing concern that the federal government has overstepped its authority and is usurping local and state jurisdiction over education. There are many more reasons that I could include, but for the sake of time and space I think we all recognize that there are considerable and legitimate issues with the PARCC assessment.
Truth be told, I have long opposed the overuse and misuse of standardized testing. Furthermore, I share many of the aforementioned concerns. However, I am not looking to impose my opinions or value system on the public. From what I have read, and heard, it seems apparent that many parents are going to exercise their own judgment, and refuse to allow their children to participate in PARCC testing. Commissioner Gist and the officials at RIDE as public servants need to be more responsive to parents’ concerns and points of view. As such, I believe that they have an obligation to make information available – not only information that supports the RIDE reform philosophy, but the whole truth. Parents should be able to look to RIDE for clarity and support so they can make informed decisions on behalf their children.
Daniel Wall
Cranston
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Dan, Thank you so much for your service as a Cranston School Committee member, and your insights as a parent and a teacher. People may recognize my name as someone who has been advocating for parents' right to Refuse for their children to take the PARCC, which is a flawed test on many levels. Readers should know that several RI representatives submitted a bill today, H5845, to the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee. This bill includes the following language: "The commissioner shall establish a procedure for the parent or legal guardian of a child attending a public school in this state to opt out of such testing or assessment program set forth in subsection (a) herein, including, but not limited to, the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for Colleges and Careers ("PARCC") assessment, or similar assessments. Such procedure shall take into consideration the fact that the parent or legal guardian is acting in the best interest of the child, and the parent's, or guardian’s decision to opt out of the testing or assessment program shall be given great deference." Parents and concerned citizens should examine the plentiful evidence of the serious flaws with the Common Core/PARCC agenda. If they agree that this is not the direction we want for our children and public schools, they should write their legislators and let them know that they wholeheartedly support this bill.
Thursday, March 12, 2015 Report this
janice6012
Bravo, Mr. Wall!!! Finally, a school committee member brave enough to challenge the run around being given by RIDE. To her credit, Supt. Lundsten kindly acknowledged a refusal letter written by my daughter for my 3rd grade granddaughter at Waterman School. She will not be taking the test -- for all the reasons so eloquently outlined by yourself and many others.
Thursday, March 12, 2015 Report this
dbkrous
Congratulations, Dan,for questioning RIDE, holding it accountable, and for standing up for your constituents. We all need more public servants like you, who understand the meaning of the term.
Here is some information that you may all find important in your quest to "opt out" of the PARCC test. Within this link, there is a sample letter that has been successfully used to "opt out" of the test.
http://www.parentsacrossri.org/opt-out-refuse-testing
Remember,this is a parental rights issue. The Supreme Court of the USA has declared it to be so.
My best to you, Dan. Keep up the good work! And good luck to parents in their quest to refuse to allow their children to be be abused by the state and big corporations!
Thursday, March 12, 2015 Report this