PARCC Testing

[Guest Guest]

Does anyone know what the policy will be for students opting not to take the PARCC test? I read that some school districts have policies in place to handle this, but haven't heard what Kearny is doing. The State is saying to use local discipline policies, so we punish children for not taking part in an assessment test that shows little chance of success.

I hope Kearny parents see what a mess this whole test is going to be, and that they stand up and demand that their children be given the opportunity to opt out. The State DOE is using bully tactics (surprise surprise) but hopefully the local school district will not follow suit. Do some research on your own and you will see the growing opt out movement. I think it's time for parents to take control, opt out, and protect their children.

[Guest Guest]

Make an appointment to speak to your child's counselor he or she will walk you through the process! This whole mess is failure by design!

[Guest guest]

I had the same question. I have asked questions but don't get any answers. I don't like this testing at all but no one seems to want to answer the parents. Maybe a board member can answer us, they should know what the policy is. I have seen Barbara Sherry post here, maybe she can answer us. Also, why hasn't the board arranged any meetings for parents to voice their concerns and have their questions answered?

[Guest Guest]

Thank God, parents, teachers and even politicians are listening to how horrible this parcc testing format will be!

[Guest Lisa]

All you need to do is send an email or written letter to the Kearny Board of Ed and to the child's school principal or counselor stating that you "refuse" your child from taking PARCC test. Simple as that. I have refused my 4th and 11th grader from the PARCC with no issues whatsoever.

See Kearny Board of Ed response to my request:

I am writing in response to your recent inquiry to Ms. Landi regarding the district's policy on opting out of PARCC testing. New Jersey is currently not an opt-out state. New Jersey state law and regulations require all students to take State assessments as scheduled. However, if you inform the district in writing that you refuse to have your child participate in the PARCC testing, an alternative educational setting will be provided.

That being said, I would encourage you to consider the positive reasons that students should participate in the PARCC examinations. Throughout a student's educational career, the PARCC assessments will provide parents with important information about their child's progress toward meeting the goal of being college or career ready. The PARCC assessments will, for the first time, provide detailed diagnostic information about each individual student's performance that educators, parents and students can utilize to enhance foundational knowledge and student achievement. PARCC assessments will also include item analysis which will clarify a student's level of knowledge and understanding of a particular subject or area of a subject. The data derived from the assessment will be utilized by teachers and administrators to pinpoint areas of difficulty and customize instruction accordingly. Such data can be accessed and utilized as a student progresses to successive school levels.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

--

Flora Encarnacao

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, PK-12

Kearny Public Schools

172 Midland Avenue

Kearny, NJ 07032

fencarnacao@kearnyschools.com

(201)955-5099

(201)955-0544 fax

[Guest Lisa]

All you need to do is send an email or written letter to the Kearny Board of Ed and to the child's school principal or counselor stating that you "refuse" your child from taking PARCC test. Simple as that. I have refused my 4th and 11th grader from the PARCC with no issues whatsoever.

See Kearny Board of Ed response to my request:

I am writing in response to your recent inquiry to Ms. Landi regarding the district's policy on opting out of PARCC testing. New Jersey is currently not an opt-out state. New Jersey state law and regulations require all students to take State assessments as scheduled. However, if you inform the district in writing that you refuse to have your child participate in the PARCC testing, an alternative educational setting will be provided.

That being said, I would encourage you to consider the positive reasons that students should participate in the PARCC examinations. Throughout a student's educational career, the PARCC assessments will provide parents with important information about their child's progress toward meeting the goal of being college or career ready. The PARCC assessments will, for the first time, provide detailed diagnostic information about each individual student's performance that educators, parents and students can utilize to enhance foundational knowledge and student achievement. PARCC assessments will also include item analysis which will clarify a student's level of knowledge and understanding of a particular subject or area of a subject. The data derived from the assessment will be utilized by teachers and administrators to pinpoint areas of difficulty and customize instruction accordingly. Such data can be accessed and utilized as a student progresses to successive school levels.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

--

Flora Encarnacao

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, PK-12

Kearny Public Schools

172 Midland Avenue

Kearny, NJ 07032

fencarnacao@kearnyschools.com

(201)955-5099

(201)955-0544 fax

[Guest Lisa]

Does anyone know what the policy will be for students opting not to take the PARCC test? I read that some school districts have policies in place to handle this, but haven't heard what Kearny is doing. The State is saying to use local discipline policies, so we punish children for not taking part in an assessment test that shows little chance of success.

I hope Kearny parents see what a mess this whole test is going to be, and that they stand up and demand that their children be given the opportunity to opt out. The State DOE is using bully tactics (surprise surprise) but hopefully the local school district will not follow suit. Do some research on your own and you will see the growing opt out movement. I think it's time for parents to take control, opt out, and protect their children.

All you need to do is send an email or written letter to the Kearny Board of Ed and to the child's school principal or counselor stating that you "refuse" your child from taking PARCC test. Simple as that. I have refused my 4th and 11th grader from the PARCC with no issues whatsoever.

See Kearny Board of Ed response to my request:

I am writing in response to your recent inquiry to Ms. Landi regarding the district's policy on opting out of PARCC testing. New Jersey is currently not an opt-out state. New Jersey state law and regulations require all students to take State assessments as scheduled. However, if you inform the district in writing that you refuse to have your child participate in the PARCC testing, an alternative educational setting will be provided.

That being said, I would encourage you to consider the positive reasons that students should participate in the PARCC examinations. Throughout a student's educational career, the PARCC assessments will provide parents with important information about their child's progress toward meeting the goal of being college or career ready. The PARCC assessments will, for the first time, provide detailed diagnostic information about each individual student's performance that educators, parents and students can utilize to enhance foundational knowledge and student achievement. PARCC assessments will also include item analysis which will clarify a student's level of knowledge and understanding of a particular subject or area of a subject. The data derived from the assessment will be utilized by teachers and administrators to pinpoint areas of difficulty and customize instruction accordingly. Such data can be accessed and utilized as a student progresses to successive school levels.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

--

Flora Encarnacao

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, PK-12

Kearny Public Schools

172 Midland Avenue

Kearny, NJ 07032

fencarnacao@kearnyschools.com

(201)955-5099

(201)955-0544 fax

[Guest Einstein]

The PAARC testing is in place to make sure the kids are prepared for the next level and for life. Opting out is cowardly. Some parents, B.O.E. members, teachers, town employees and politicians may not care because their underachieving kids need only get G.E.D. and patronage/nepotism contacts to get them on the Fire Department. They may consider the white mans Firefighting welfare jobs as a successful person but most want their kids to have a true profession like a Doctor or Engineer. When A+ students are only getting 1800 on SAT scores it proves they were helped through school with favorable grades. Then again, there's always a town job like a poorly educated Firefighter waiting for them. LOL!

[Guest Diana]

Hi Lisa,

Could you share your refusal request letter on the board?

Thanks!

[Guest Paco Taco]

The common core of brother Firefighters, yes we are, is that we are heroes from the day we are born. Oh yes we are the bravest, superego, super humans that are more famous than that American Sniper. We are snipers with our water hoses aimed at the beast of fire that attacks us day and night with inferno backdrafts and flashovers. House Fires is our combat theatre and we fight the fire breathing fury of flames and eat smoke for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Axe, Bull, Sniper and Viper we are called and inhale barbecue smoke as a snack. We need more white men and money as we question our manhood with not enough sleeping after our once a week drive to get $100,000.00/year from the property taxes but we don't live in the area. The movie American Firefighter Sniper must be made. Heroes we are brothers to the civilians.

[Guest guest]

Yes, Diana, I agree because on the schools' website it states in the January minutes that there were no parents requesting exemptions for their children.

[Guest Guest]

This subject is about PAARC testing and the previous NJASK and Core Curriculum Standards, not firefighters. The fact that from first grade through high school, almost every teaching hour is devoted to this test, to the detriment of everything else, is what is being discussed. If you want to be a firefighter, Kearny is still a civil service community, so take the test. If you want extra points on the test, volunteer for the military before taking the test.

[Guest Guest]

This subject is about PAARC testing and the previous NJASK and Core Curriculum Standards, not firefighters. The fact that from first grade through high school, almost every teaching hour is devoted to this test, to the detriment of everything else, is what is being discussed. If you want to be a firefighter, Kearny is still a civil service community, so take the test. If you want extra points on the test, volunteer for the military before taking the test.

Just ignore the whackjob, it's rather sad when someone hates a particular group of employees that much that they try to drag their nonsense into other arenas. At the end of the day what is the Purpose of these tests?? If it isnt to ensure a good education, then there is obviously something wrong with the entire process. If other Useful and NEEDED Subjects and programs are being sacrifices on the later of "Standardized Testing", then maybe the Testing itself is the root problem. While i rarely use Fiction as an example, the old HBO Series "The Wire" actually did a GOOD job of showing how students can be neglected in their real education as opposed to teaching to "Test Standards" If you drill the kids to rote answers on a standardized test, what happens to the rest of their education???

[Guest Lisa]

Hi Lisa,

Could you share your refusal request letter on the board?

Thanks!

Hi Diana,

Of course. Here is the link: ***[link removed]****

Please let me know if you need anything else.

P.S. I confirmed with the Kearny Board of Ed that there is no deadline to submit your refusal.

However, the earlier the better so that the schools can make alternate teaching arrangements for your child.

Thanks

Lisa

Edited February 28, 2015 by KOTW
Link Removed as it was not to a document.

[Guest mom]

I thought the most interesting part of Lisa's post was the curriculum person's response

"...reasons that students should participate in the PARCC examinations. Throughout a student's educational career, the PARCC assessments will provide parents with important information about their child's progress toward meeting the goal of being college or career ready. The PARCC assessments will, for the first time, provide detailed diagnostic information about each individual student's performance that educators, parents and students can utilize to enhance foundational knowledge and student achievement. PARCC assessments will also include item analysis which will clarify a student's level of knowledge and understanding of a particular subject or area of a subject. The data derived from the assessment will be utilized by teachers and administrators to pinpoint areas of difficulty and customize instruction accordingly. Such data can be accessed and utilized as a student progresses to successive school levels."

From what I've read the test won't count this year and it Sounds like this curriculum person knows what they are talking about. I spoke to my schools principal and decided my son should take the test so when it becomes required to graduate he will be used to it. i think some of these parents just want to keep children in bubble wrap...

[Guest Dear Abby]

Mom: Although Kearny's portion of state aid was reduced by roughly $1.5 million, the town clearly knew that because it rushed to appoint four costly, property tax grabbing, sleep ready Firefighters a day or two in advance of the public numbers. Please don't worry about your sons future. Start hanging around town hall now, get on the towns payroll and become a part of the "IN" crowd. Then, by the time Junior is an 18 year old moron you will have enough patronage and nepotism clout to sign him on for his taxpayer funded 25 year Firefighter vacation. The Firefighters are making over $100,000.00 now, can't you see Junior as a $200,000.00 a year Firefighter in future taxpayer money to sleep, run personal errands and buy a house in a better area? Plan now and avoid the pesky and sleep depriving education worries. Firefighting currently only requires a G.E.D. and in 10 to 15 years it will be reduced to graduation from elementary school. One more thing: If you are any race other than WHITE forget everything on which I just gave my opinion and have your kid take the required tests. Firefighting is WHITE mans welfare and I see nothing happening to change that political and institutional guideline.. I hope that was informative.

[Guest Guest]

Mom: Although Kearny's portion of state aid was reduced by roughly $1.5 million, the town clearly knew that because it rushed to appoint four costly, property tax grabbing, sleep ready Firefighters a day or two in advance of the public numbers. Please don't worry about your sons future. Start hanging around town hall now, get on the towns payroll and become a part of the "IN" crowd. Then, by the time Junior is an 18 year old moron you will have enough patronage and nepotism clout to sign him on for his taxpayer funded 25 year Firefighter vacation. The Firefighters are making over $100,000.00 now, can't you see Junior as a $200,000.00 a year Firefighter in future taxpayer money to sleep, run personal errands and buy a house in a better area? Plan now and avoid the pesky and sleep depriving education worries. Firefighting currently only requires a G.E.D. and in 10 to 15 years it will be reduced to graduation from elementary school. One more thing: If you are any race other than WHITE forget everything on which I just gave my opinion and have your kid take the required tests. Firefighting is WHITE mans welfare and I see nothing happening to change that political and institutional guideline.. I hope that was informative.

Can this person please stay on topic? If not can they be deleted?

[Guest concerned guest]

Some additional reasons to "opt out" your child from taking the PARCC test are:

1. Try taking parts of the PARCC pratice test, which are on the Kearny Schools webpage and you will see that it is a twisted and confusing test. Subjecting young minds to such an assessment is crazy. How about a classical curriculum and drill in basic skills, at least for the lower grades. Activities in the classroom should not be centered on what is on this test. It robs the classroom of spontaneity, teaching moments and digression into other areas of interest. One size fits all is not the way to go.

2. PARCC is administered on a computer rather than on paper (tests of this kind should be done on paper and, in addition, it is more practical) this puts pressure on the youngest students to learn keyboarding before they have had the experience to develop motor skills to form letters correctly. Tight school budgets are spending yet, even more, on hardware just to accommodate computerized PARCC.

3. They have 400 points of data collected on each student and held in a database of a private company for unknown future use. Centralizing this information is an invasion of privacy. More than enough data can be gathered on each student within the school itself. Every parent needs to be concerned about this.

4. Two tests per year are given. Massive amounts of instructional time is lost. These are used to evaluate teacher performance. This is flawed logic. There are way too many variables in the lives of students that can have dramatic effects on how they do in school. Overevaluate staff and you kill inspiration and motivation.

5. Preparation for this test has killed real teaching. The teachers used to teach math or whatever and then work with the students if they didn't understand. Now, I understand, they just put the study for the test stuff in front of the kids, and questions and discussions aren't used.

Enough is enough.

[Guest Reality]

Do not kid your selves. The only reason any school cares about "opting out" is their federal funding. I am a recently retired school administrator and the Curriculum Director's response is state rhetoric. She has a job to do and it is nothing personal at all. We have to encourage participation because of the veiled threats of funding cuts at the state meetings! Nothing about this is in the best interest of students. I am not against testing knowledge but not at the expense of real learning So sad! Parents do what you feel is best for your individual child. I have two grand children attending school in Saddle Brook. One is participating and one is not.

[Guest Guest]

Do not kid your selves. The only reason any school cares about "opting out" is their federal funding. I am a recently retired school administrator and the Curriculum Director's response is state rhetoric. She has a job to do and it is nothing personal at all. We have to encourage participation because of the veiled threats of funding cuts at the state meetings! Nothing about this is in the best interest of students. I am not against testing knowledge but not at the expense of real learning So sad! Parents do what you feel is best for your individual child. I have two grand children attending school in Saddle Brook. One is participating and one is not.

So true. What a shame. As long as Pearson, the testing company, is making a lot of money, that's all that counts

[Guest Guest]

Why is our government trying to steer billions upon billions of public education $$$ to a multi national corporation? Who and what is Pearson PLC? Do some research on them it's an interesting read!

[Guest Guest]

These people are not educators they are businessmen and investors! They are not looking out for your children's best interests they are looking to make billions by dismantling and then rebuilding a corporate profit driven public, no I should say corporate education for our children! They will drive the curriculum and what our children learn! Are these multinational corporate types the entity we want to mold our children's minds? Are we going to relinquish our public education system to these people? I say no!

[Guest College Student]

The PARCC assessments will, for the first time, provide detailed diagnostic information about each individual student's performance that educators, parents and students can utilize to enhance foundational knowledge and student achievement. PARCC assessments will also include item analysis which will clarify a student's level of knowledge and understanding of a particular subject or area of a subject. The data derived from the assessment will be utilized by teachers and administrators to pinpoint areas of difficulty and customize instruction accordingly. Such data can be accessed and utilized as a student progresses to successive school levels.

Can't educators, parents, and students "pinpoint areas of difficulty" on traditional exams/quizzes? Why is all this federal hoopla necessary to see that Johnny is good with addiction but poor with division, or that Michelle needs to improve her grammar? What happened to doing a paper test and taking the graded test home to your parents? Why does our government insist on making a simple task so incredibly complicated and expensive???

[Guest concerned guest]

Can't educators, parents, and students "pinpoint areas of difficulty" on traditional exams/quizzes? Why is all this federal hoopla necessary to see that Johnny is good with addiction but poor with division, or that Michelle needs to improve her grammar? What happened to doing a paper test and taking the graded test home to your parents? Why does our government insist on making a simple task so incredibly complicated and expensive?

Top government officials and their corporate donors want total control over the general population and that includes schools. There is also a lot of money to be made in centralized testing. Your comments and questions are absolutely right on!