Hi Mr. and Mrs. Crunchy,
As with state-mandated tests, all students enrolled in Maryland Public Schools are required to be administered the PARCC assessment this year. Monkey will be taking the PARCC Mathematics and ELA assessments as is required of all students across the state in tested grades and subjects. Given that we are legally bound to administer the assessment to all of our students, we cannot accommodate your request for her to not take the assessment. Regarding Monkey's assessment last year, she is referring to a make-up session. Monkey was absent from the first session of her MSA test administration, and we assessed her during a make-up session as was required of us by the state of Maryland. This make-up process is the same used for any and all students who are absent during testing sessions, and this same process is in place for this year.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.
*sigh*
Next step: Our refusal of their refusal of our refusal:
Dear Mr. Principal:
We are aware that M**** School intends to administer the PARCC test, that Monkey will be given the test. However, that does not mean that Monkey will actually take the test. That is the distinction.
We are aware that M**** School intends to administer the PARCC test, that Monkey will be given the test. However, that does not mean that Monkey will actually take the test. That is the distinction.
This is not a request for M**** to not administer that test, or to opt out; it is simply to inform M**** that Monkey won't be taking the test. Short of someone putting her hands on the actual keyboard or trackpad, she cannot be forced to take the test - and non-testing students should not, according to the PARCC manual, be in the room with testing students. We are informing M**** of our family's intention and decision in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be made. We are happy to send work with her, or to suggest alternate activities, if that is helpful; we know the school will be busy during the testing windows.
As to the makeup session last year, she was in fact absent for the third morning session of the MSA, with makeups scheduled (according to a testing calendar I'd seen) not until the next week; if the makeup schedule had been changed due to the snow days last March, the courtesy of at least a phone call would have been appreciated, but - water under the bridge and all that.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely
The Crunchies
From the PARCC manual:
 |
| http://avocet.pearson.com/PARCC/Home#7053 |
Wonder if we'll have any better luck with the Alg 2 test. That one they cannot say is required, because it is not listed as a required test for high school graduation unlike Alg 1 and Eng 10. The HS is refusing to answer emails...teacher/counselor are not going on record with anything with this test...they know it's not a graduation requirement. They know the new Alg 2 curriculum comes out next year...so is this a field test? No answers to anything. Yes, same district as you.
ReplyDeleteHave you asked the Testing Office? That might be the next place to go for answers - onward and upward!
DeleteThis is why I homeschool my kids. I hope they will respect your decision at the end of the day!
ReplyDelete