Is Your Child
Opting Out? A Parent’s Guide to State Testing
By
Stephanie O’Leary, Psy.D., Author
of Parenting
in the Real World

- You’ll need to write a letter. You can find resources online about specific information to include in your state, but a simple opt-out statement is really all you need to begin with. Click the button below to download the sample letter I use:
- Your school district may have specific policies or procedures they ask you to follow. You can do your best, but at the end of the day sending a simple note to your child’s principal is sufficient to start the process.
- There’s no deadline, so if you’ve made your decision closer to the test date(s) send the letter in anyway—even if it’s the day of the test.
- Ask what your child will be doing while peers are taking tests (most will be asked to engage in quiet activities in an alternate classroom or location, such as an auditorium or gymnasium).
- Know that if you keep your child home from school on the day of testing he or she will miss instruction that’s provided after the testing is over.
- Most districts do not consider it a legal/excused absence if you list the reason as “opting out of standardized testing.”
Most
schools will allow you to keep your child home during the hour(s) of
testing without an attendance penalty if your son or daughter arrives
in time for educational instruction (you can call ahead and ask about
timing for your child’s specific test).
About
the Author:
Stephanie
O'Leary, Psy.D. is a Clinical Psychologist specializing in
Neuropsychology, mom of two, and author of Parenting
in the Real World.
She provides parents with a no-nonsense approach to navigating the
daily grind while preparing their child for the challenges they’ll
face in the real world. www.stephanieoleary.com
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