by Sandy Stenoff
According to the Florida Dept of Education (FLDOE), as of February 2021, 30% of all public school children are still being schooled remotely, including 2.3% in virtual schools.
Many parents have made the difficult decision to keep their children at home, learning remotely, since the beginning of the school year. Some of the reasons we’ve heard from parents seeking opt out information include a parent who has had a heart transplant; a student’s sibling, who has cancer and undergoes chemotherapy; a third grade student who has Type 1 Diabetes, to name a few. All are immuno-compromised and are at high risk of serious illness or fatality if they were to contract the virus.
Update – April 5: Children now playing ‘huge role’ in spread of COVID-19 variant, expert says
In spite of increasing COVID-19 vaccination compliance in Florida and nationally, Florida continues to document the greatest number of COVID-19 variants.
Since January, thousands of new parents have joined The Opt Out Florida Network.
They are asking:
“We’ve kept our 8-yr old daughter home all year long because I have a heart transplant. Her school now says I have to send her in to take the FSA or else she will be retained. Is this true?”
“If, as a parent, I opt to keep my kids out of the classroom because a sibling has cancer, can the school force me to have my kids attend for state testing?”
“My son has Type 1 Diabetes. How do I opt out of the FSA if we’ve been learning remotely from home?“
Some superintendents have provided guidance in response to overwhelming demands from parents for guidance.
Orange County’s Supt. Jenkins addressed the issue of remote learners not attending FSA at the 2/23/21 OCPS board meeting:
District Letters To Parents
Orange County’s letter re-affirms what Dr. Jenkins said at the school board meeting – that “OCPS will not force any families to send kids in for face-to-face testing.”
Seminole County’s letter says they “will respect the decisions that parents will make on behalf of their students.”
From Miami-Dade County, quoting the Florida Commissioner of Education, Richard Corcoran, even as Corcoran maintains that all students must go into school to test in person:
“…the decision to participate ultimately rests with the parents and/or guardian.”
NOTE: None of the districts say that your child will be exempted from the requirements of testing – for third grade promotion or for graduation requirements. Only the governor or the commissioner of education can do that.
A FEW FACTS
- Florida statute mandates that all districts must administer the test and that all students must participate in the test, but it does not define “participation.
- Tens of thousands of students have successfully opted out of the FSA since 2012 and have been promoted and appropriately placed, without incident, based on their report cards and teacher recommendations.
- Nothing we post here is to be considered legal advice.
This post is about HOW to opt out, whether you are learning remotely from home or in person at school.
This post is not about how to get a Good Cause Exemption. ONLY third grade students require a Good Cause Exemption to be promoted. Information on approved Alternative Assessments for Good Cause Exemptions may be found in the Opt Out Guide and in the Third Grade Opt Out Toolbox.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Pushback from schools can be an issue when opting out of “mandatory” state tests, but NOT if you are informed, know what to expect and understand what your real options are.
ALL parents should expect a letter from school, saying, “There is no provision in state statutes for opting out of the FSA.” The letter does not mean that you can’t opt out, just that they have to tell you that you can’t. Please understand the difference.
Some principals and staff are compassionate and empathetic and will help you to get your child through this.
Others will push hard to try to get you to bring your child in to take the test, which, for some families, is not an option now. If the district is saying one thing and your principal is doing another, there is a disconnect that must be corrected. Email your superintendent. If you can’t get a satisfactory response, forward it to your local education reporter. I’m not kidding.
Squeak, wheels. Squeak.
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So, how DO you opt out if your child isn’t going into school face-to-face?
DISTANCE/REMOTE STUDENTS AT HOME
- DON’T send them to school to take the FSA... That’s pretty much it.
- Once you’ve made the decision not to send your child into school for testing, if you wish to notify the school, as a courtesy, you can find a sample letter to adapt to your own needs here.
- DO read the updated OPT OUT GUIDE to help you to understand opting out.
- DO read the Pocket Opt Out Guide, with lots of useful information to share with friends and school.
- DO use the tools in the Opt Out Toolbox and in the RESOURCES link.
- If your child is in the third grade, use the Third Grade Opt Out Toolbox to secure a Good Cause Exemption for promotion to the fourth grade.
- THEN, if you still have questions, please join us here to ask your questions.
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FACE-TO-FACE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL
Students who are in school, in person, will opt out the same way that they have always opted out.
- Sit for the test.
- Don’t sign the Test Rules Acknowledgement.
- Open the test. 3a) On computer test, student will login.
- Push the test away. 4a) On computer, scroll through to the end of the test, without answering any questions and click submit.
- When urged to complete your test, politely decline saying, “No, thank you. I’m done.”
- Take a nap, read, draw, sit quietly or whatever you’re permitted to do when you’re finished testing.
(Some students may be picked up from school by parents and returned to school after testing.) - Congratulations! You’ve now opted out.
THE OTHER OPT OUT
Some parents find “The Other Opt Out” easier on younger kids, especially when parents are not able to pick them up from school during testing. Kids opting out this way typically do not have to “sit and stare.”
Essentially, you keep your child out of school during the test and return them to school when class resumes. That could be a day of absence or going to school after the test has started. They cannot enter the classroom while testing is in session. The school is obligated to present a makeup test to your child until they either take it, or opt out. You will have to ask how this is done at your school, whether that’s in the classroom, or in a separate classroom with other kids who were either late or absent, like your child, or perhaps even in the office, with just a few other students.
- Your child can then refuse just like in a regular opt out.
- Push the test away.
- When the proctor prompts student to take their test, they would politely refuse and close the booklet (or scroll through to the end, if on computer, and would then be finished.
- They are usually sent back to class right after that.
- Again, you would need to confirm with the school how they handle make up testing.
- The Other Opt Out is also described in the Opt Out Pocket Guide, under Just The Facts.
Even young students understand the issues with testing and what it costs them. Given the choice, your child may surprise you and choose to opt out in person, in their classrooms, with their peers, where many consider it their own “silent protest.” There is value in students advocating for themselves in this way.
WHAT IF MY CHILD TESTED? CAN I DECIDE TO OPT OUT LATER?
GRADE 3 – No score is better than a failing score.
- Grade 3 has 2 days of Reading assessments, each counts separately. (No writing)
- THEREFORE, your options are either to opt out or take the test on both days.
All in or all out. - You can always opt out of the FSA Math.
GRADES 4-10
- BOTH Writing & Reading tests are needed for a valid ELA score in Gr 4-10.
- THEREFORE, if a parent decides to opt out AFTER a student in Grade 4-10 has taken the Writing test, THEY CAN STILL OPT OUT of both days of Reading.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR GRADES WITH HIGH STAKES
GRADE 3
- Third graders are required to have either a passing FSA reading score to be promoted to the fourth grade – OR a Good Cause Exemption. But only ONE is needed.
- Parents of third graders opting out should work with their child’s teacher for a Good Cause Exemption.
- Use the tools in the THIRD GRADE OPT OUT TOOLBOX, in particular the information on developing a real portfolio, as opposed to t test portfolio.
Talking About Opting Out With Young Children:
If your younger student finds it difficult not to take a test that their teacher has asked them to take, you may find these conversations with children helpful in getting the conversation started:
An 8-year Old Talks About Test Prep
If I Didn’t Opt Out, I’d Be A Liar
Whether your third grader opts out in person, is merely absent, or fails the FSA, the punitive consequences are the same. The guidelines for ensuring your child meets the state requirements for promotion are the same – they need a Good Cause Exemption to be promoted.
Parents need to work with the school to ensure a Good Cause Exemption for promotion (since you are opting out), however, it is also in each school’s interest to facilitate promotion.
For detailed information on securing a portfolio for a Good Cause Exemption for promotion from third grade to fourth grade, see the recent post, I’m Not Sending My Third Grader In For The FSA… Now What?
GRADE 10
- To fulfil graduation requirements, tenth graders need a passing FSA ELA score OR a concordant (passing) score on the ACT or the SAT. Only ONE is needed.
- Students have until the end of their senior year to meet this requirement.
- Different graduating classes have different cut scores, updated by the FLDOE last year and are outlined in the updated opt out guide. PLEASE READ THE GUIDE.
- Parents must check the FLDOE website for updates to Florida graduation requirements, which are subject to change by the FLDOE at any time.
Remember that although the FSA is a graduation requirement for a high school diploma, it is NOT a requirement for ANY college admission considerations.
NO college requires the FSA.
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All Other Grades
While third and tenth grades carry risk for not having a passing FSA score, for ALL other grades, opting out is simply a matter of talking your child through why you are choosing to opt them out of testing.
Notifying the school
If your child is learning remotely and you plan to keep them home, you can just keep them home. It’s up to you whether you notify school in advance or not.
Early notification:
- Is a courtesy to the teacher, who must plan, especially during the pandemic.
- Tells the teacher that you put more trust their ability to assess your child than you do in a single, high stakes standardized test. It puts you on the same side: Your child’s.
- It frees the teacher to teach your child authentically, as if they were not testing, because they aren’t.
- Releases your child from the stress and monotony of test prep so they can actually learn to love school.
Specific to this year, early notice to your school puts the state of Florida on notice that a significant number of students will not be counted. The greater the number of parents who commit to opting out, the more meaningless the test administration will be and the more likely it will be that Florida’s governor and Commissioner of Education will be forced to consider cancellation of the test.
Many of you have kept your children at home for various reasons throughout this school year. You have come to us now to figure out how to get your child promoted without an FSA score, perhaps not thinking of sitting out the FSA now as “opting out” in protest.
But, protest you will, no matter what anyone wants to call it; because to refuse to comply with the state’s mandate to test all children, in person, during a pandemic, IS a protest. And we support you.
We encourage you to keep learning more about why you should continue to opt out after this year.
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TAKE ACTION NOW:
TELL COMMISSIONER CORCORAN TO HONOR PARENT “CHOICE” TO REFUSE TO RETURN FOR FSA
“The “choice” of millions of parents to keep students at home during COVID-19 should mean something significant in the state of Florida. The FSA testing window opens in April and FL Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran is determined to disrespect parents who do not choose to return their child to school to take a test. For those parents, this is a seminal moment. The consequences of returning to school for the FSA could come at a far greater cost than all of Florida’s punitive accountability system combined.”
CLICK HERE: Take action, tell Gov. DeSantis & Commissioner Corcoran to remove all 2021 FSA consequences – including to those students who do not return face-to-face to test.
SUPPORT GROUPS ON FACEBOOK
Opt Out Orlando – Statewide hub for Opt Out discussions
Local opt out groups across Florida
Opt OutFlorida Third Grade – specific to Third Grade and Good Cause Exemption
RESOURCES
Opt Out Guide
Pocket Guide
Video – How To Opt Out Of A Computer Test
Opt Out Toolbox
Third Grade Opt Out Toolbox
The Opt Out Florida Network – Be sure to LIKE to get the most current education and testing news