Manatee School District reports 5 third-graders "opted out" by being dismissed during reading exam
MANATEE -- Far less than 1 percent of Manatee County third-graders "opted out" of the state reading assessment, according to district numbers.
The third-grade reading assessment was the first state assessment given to students this spring, and passing third-grade exams is a state requirement for students to move onto the fourth grade. In a newsletter to school board members on Friday, Superintendent Diana Greene reported that five out of the approximately 3,100 third-grade students "opted out."
The district counts students as opting out if they were dismissed by a parent or guardian during the testing period. A dismissal means the test is invalidated and is a clear signal to the district that the student and family wanted to opt out of taking the test, which most parents call an act of civil disobedience.
"There could be a few more in there that a child just sat there for the whole duration and didn't do anything," said Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Cynthia Saunders. From talking to the proctors, Saunders said there didn't seem to be too many children not taking the tests during the testing session.
The number does seem low to Amy Lee, a local parent who helps run an online forum on Facebook for parents and families who are looking for information on opting out. By her own measures, Lee thinks there are
more students who didn't complete the test but weren't dismissed, instead having to "sit and stare" through the test period.
"The numbers are significantly higher than what is demonstrated just by picking up," she said.
The state will release formal numbers of tests that were not completed later this year, most likely in the summer.
One student from Gullet, one student from Mills, one from Freedom and two from Williams were dismissed during the reading portion of the third-grade exam, according to the district.
A growing movement
A growing number of parents say they oppose the high-stakes nature of the test, feel the tests do little to enhance their children's learning and think the time could be better spent with a teacher. Instead of keeping the children home from school and penalizing the school for not testing enough students, parents say the opt-out method is the best way to send a message to the state that the tests are unacceptable.
Opting out is a growing movement in the state of Florida and across the nation, where parents are beginning to push back against state legislators forcing newer and harder tests -- aligned with the controversial Common Core standards -- on students. This is the second year students in Florida have taken the new tests.
In Manatee County, more tests are underway now that spring break is over. Saunders said the district has not seen high numbers of students being dismissed, but it's still early.
Third grade is seen as an important year in testing, as students must pass the state test to move onto fourth grade. Students must also pass the 10th-grade exams to be able to graduate high school. In both cases, if students take the test and fail, they are able to use a different score, or in the case of third-grade students, a portfolio of their work, to show good cause and be moved along to the next grade.
But a portfolio can only be used for third-grade students if they've actually taken the test, Saunders said.
"They must receive a score on an equivalent type of an assessment in order for us to use a portfolio for an option," Saunders said.
Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter @MeghinDelaney.
This story was originally published April 4, 2016 at 11:02 PM with the headline "Manatee School District reports 5 third-graders "opted out" by being dismissed during reading exam ."