If you are asking about Opting Out, as a parent you have already reached certain conclusions. Maybe you believe the STAAR has had a negative effect on curriculum and you can’t support it. Maybe you find it developmentally inappropriate. Maybe you have seen the physical and emotional toll it takes on kids and don’t want to subject your child to that. Maybe you just don’t like outsourcing the assessment of Texas school kids to a foreign corporation. Whatever the reason, if you are asking about Opting Out, you’ve either reached those conclusions, or you are concerned enough about some issue to want to take action. So what are you waiting for?
If you are waiting on permission from your school before deciding to Opt Out of the STAAR test, let me save you some time. You won’t get it. The TEA has given districts their marching orders. They are to tell all parents that it is not permitted, ever, under any circumstances. Nevermind the hundreds or thousands of parents who opted out last year. Never mind all the voices who post on this forum and will tell you they Opted Out with no consequences. Nevermind the TEA telling them they can accept refusals. If you want your school’s permission, you don’t really want to Opt Out. What you want is to be excused. You want the school to do your job for you. They are usually all too happy to parent your child for you. That is, as long as it fits their rules. Since Opting Out doesn’t fit their rules, they won’t handle that part of it for you. You have to do the hard work.
2024 Update: The TEA has told schools they can accept parental refusals and not put the assessment in front of the student. THE DECISION TO OPPOSE YOU IS A LOCAL DECISION
What’s the hard work? The hard work is being a parent. The hard work is giving the school more respect than they give you and letting them know your decision. The hard work is listening to them lie and say that parents can’t opt their child out. The hard work is politely telling them that you weren’t asking their permission but have already decided. The hard work is letting them know that you understand the state ties their hands – that you don’t hold that against them and that you are sure they don’t hold your decision against you. The hard work is figuring out whether to refuse by staying home or by telling your child just not to fill out the test forms. The hard work being an advocate for your child if the school is upset by your decision.
The hard work is informing yourself and not taking any threats at face value. If they tell you your child will be retained, ask them why the TEA has published a website saying STAAR isn’t a promotion requirement anymore.. If they tell you that your child has to be tested on a makeup day, tell them you know it’s a district option and that you want your child in class even if it means they “grade” the refused assessment. If they tell you the state requires them to put the assessment in front you the student if they are at school, tell them the TEA says that isn’t true and SHOW THEM the truth. If they tell you that you have to withdraw your child to avoid STAAR, tell them you know that’s not true. They can’t show you a law or regulation that says so.
We’ve EXPLAINED to you that they aren’t going to agree. We’ve SHOWN you what you need to do when they don’t. So when they write back and say you can’t opt out, put on your adult pants and ACT. You know that parents have been opting out for a decade without the state patting them on the head and saying it is OK. Either you want to opt out or you want permission. Which is it?
We are here to support you. We’ll fight for you if you want. But what we can’t do is give you the backbone to do what you already know is right. Only you can do that hard work. You’ll have amazing support and cheering crowds. Your kids will have what they deserve. But not if you wait for permission. You don’t ask the school for permission on any of your other child rearing decisions. Why do you want it now?
Updated: April 12, 2024
What I your child is a senior and still has one test to pass to graduate if he opts out no graduation right?
Opting out does have more immediate consequences on high school students than elementary and middle school. Read our article “What About High School.”
My Grandson spent spring break with me. He’s 8 years old and is a whiz at math but has issues with reading comprehension even though he can read quite well. But when he spoke of returning to school on Monday he openly sobbed because he’s exhausted from going to “Smart Start” before every school day, and he’s so stressed out about not passing the StaarsTest (he has already failed the preliminary test) that he doesn’t even want to return to school. He feels like a failure and dumb because he can’t pass this horrid test!!! His parents have tried everything, and have now hired a private tutor to try and help him. So Granny is researching for ways to stop the nonsense! I know a group of Mom’s from Flowermound got it stopped. Can you help me?
Do u have a sample opt out letter for Tarrant county 6th grade? Thank you
I have a 3rd grader in Life Skills in Frisco ISD. He is developmentally delayed & probably around a 3yr old cognitively. There is NO chance that he can take/pass the STAAR this year, but we are being told he will still have to take it with accommodations. He is non-verbal & cannot write. I do NOT want him sitting in a room for 4 hrs 2 days in a row being subjected to this test he has NO idea of passing nor will even understand. What are my options? Just keep him home that entire week? This is so maddening that they would expect kids in Special Ed. to be subjected to these tests as well!!
Yes, keep him home.
My son is in a high academic charter and gets A’s and B’s. His most difficult subject is math but got an 87 in math this past semester and an 89 in math lab. But he has never passed the math STAAR. He is in 6st grade this year so lady year when he didn’t pass STAAR there was a huge deal made and then of course the tests basically got thrown out due to errors.
He is go I got back to mainstream public school next year. If we opt.out this year for 6st grade can the school next year try and make him retake 6st grade for any reason even with a 3.50 GPA.
Provided the charter school promotes him, the public school should accept that.
I was told by the school counselor that it’s a state law to take the STAAR if he is enrolled in a public school. I also said i would withdrawl him before he took the STAAR. this is the first year we are opting out. he is currently in 6th grade. he has always been A or A-B honor roll student but the STAAR does emotional damage to him even weeks leading up to this test. i let the counselor know that i’ve already done my research and i know he will not get penalized.
Yes, schools lie.