Is there an “official” way to refuse standardized testing for a public school student? (2014)

[Jai27]

My son attends a virtual school that is part of a public school system. I recently received a letter that stated:

“The State of Alabama requires all students in grades 3-8 to take the ACAP Summative Assessment... We are working on finalizing the testing dates and locations so that you can make plans now to have your child(ren) at their designated location as required.”

Is there an official procedure for opting out of the test? If not, does anyone know the penalty if I don’t send them in to be tested?

If there wasn’t a pandemic, I would not mind but my children have been home since March 2020 and our household is following stricter stay-at-home procedures due to health issues. Thank you.

[MisterEd51]

The testing requirements comes from the federal program called The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). All 50 states had waivers in 2020. However unless Alabama has requested a waiver for 2021 the testing will probably be required this year.

There is no way to individually opt out. I have read that even though testing is required to be done by all 50 states I am not sure whether every student can be made to take the test. The problem is you would have to fight the system to try to get out of the testing. Few people have the courage to try this and would be willing to face the consequences.

The greatest short-term stress test will involve assessments. Last spring, states got waivers from the department and didn’t have to give ESSA-mandated exams. Whether to waive the tests again will be one of the major questions President-elect Joe Biden’s Education Department will face. Shortly before Election Day, his campaign did not commit to granting those testing waivers.

https://www.edweek.org/policy-politi...lience/2020/11

Background on ESSA’s Testing Provisions

To measure progress against that goal and maintain a critical focus on educational equity and excellence for all, the law maintains the requirement that states administer to all students annual statewide assessments in reading/language arts and mathematics in grades 3-8 and once in high school, as well as assessments oncein each grade span in science for all students and annual English language proficiency assessments in grades K-12 for all English learners. The law also includes important protections to ensure that all students are tested, offered appropriate accommodations when needed, and held to the same high standards.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
https://www.ed.gov/essa?src=rn
https://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg...tsheet1207.pdf

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Federal Requirements for State Assessments
https://www.scillsspartners.org/fede...e-assessments/

Accountability After COVID-19
https://www.nciea.org/blog/essa/outl...after-covid-19

How Will ESSA Hold Up During COVID-19? Pandemic Tests the Law’s Resilience
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politi...lience/2020/11

Opting Out of Standardized Tests – What You Need to Know
Alabama School Connection » Opting Out of Standardized Tests – What You Need to Know

[Jai27]

I understand there may be no way to individually opt out, but does anyone know what the penalty would be if a student simply does not show up foe the in-person testing?