Can I opt out of testing?

[Heavenly]

My children go to a private school and they will be doing the Canadian Test of Basic Skills in the next couple of weeks. It takes place over 4-5 mornings and is from grades 3-8. I have no problem with leaving my 3rd grader in, she loves school and tests. My 4th grader on the other hand has bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and learning disabilities. He is just starting testing to pinpoint what are the main areas of dysfunction in regards to school work. I don't want him to do the CTBS testing. He has test anxiety and, like I said, learning issues. My DH wants me to go in on Monday and tell them he won't be taking the tests, but I am worried that they are going to throw a big fit over it. So do you think I have a right to opt him out of this testing? The school would have to find something else for him to do during those mornings so they might take issue with that as well. Thanks for any input.

[mom2ponygirl]

I think a private school would understand and be flexible. They won't have the state breathing down their neck over testing, so I can't see why they wouldn't be okay with letting a child with anxiety skip. Or perhaps they would suggest a lighter, less stressful intro to testing to help him overcome his anxiety.

[kathymuggle]

I opted my son out of the EQAO (Ont) when he was in school. It was not an issue. I am positive you can opt him or her out - simply write a note saying they are not to have the test, and if the school has an issue with this, to call you. I would write a note instead of going in - it is in writing, and there is less possibility of confrontation/them trying to talk you out of it.

It is always an option to keep you kids out of school on test days, and they will probably be shunted off to another class during testing anyways, so you might consider doing so.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

My DH wants me to go in on Monday and tell them he won't be taking the tests, but I am worried that they are going to throw a big fit over it. So do you think I have a right to opt him out of this testing?

I'd put the request in writing with a bulleted list explaining why, and I'd suggest keeping him at home during testing if at all possible. If staying home isn't an option, I'd make sure he had a book to read or something else interesting with him.

For the most part in the states, every single kid has to take the test, even sn kids. Private schools in the state we currently live in have a lot more leeway than the public schools where we just moved from though, so I think there's hope.

If they insist on the test, then I would put it right back in their laps and ask what accommodations they are offering to make it work for him. I would just carry on the conversation like it is completely obvious that doing the test the regular way won't work. Common accommodations in our public school including doing the test in a room with just a teacher and/or doing the test untimed.

[CarrieMF]

Based on my experiences with the testing(in 2 provinces) they will make accomodations. They're doing the CAT 4's right now in the school I work in. They have to be done by Oct 7. The class I work in has 2 students who are on different testing than the rest of the kids(and these 2 students are on different from each other too). They have their tests done in a seperate room with an individual person.

I helped with testing last year, alot with 1 kid who readys VERY slowly. I read the test to him & he gave me the answers I had to write down. While these tests do have right answers it doesn't effect anything to do with his own grades or ability. It is information gathering only so they can see where they need to improve in their teaching.

in the school my kids go to there are schools who do not test all kids ON PURPOSE. Since it is information gathering only testing kids who are not at the same grade level(ahead or behind) serves them no purpose for that entire grade.

[mamatowill]

You can opt out of testing. That is not a test that is standard across Ontario (like EQAO which you can opt out of also). What you can do is ask the school what their plan is for your son. Are they going to make him take the tests? How will they accomodate him? If they are not accomodating him then what will they do with him during that time? Depending on their answers you can decide if you are going to opt him out or not. Also know what he can handle- if he is opted out and you want him to stay at school where is he going to reasonably go? It sounds like only grade 2 and under are not writing it so is he ok to help in the younger grades all morning? Read a book? These answers will help you decide if you should keep him home in the morning.

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

My children go to a private school and they will be doing the Canadian Test of Basic Skills in the next couple of weeks. It takes place over 4-5 mornings and is from grades 3-8. I have no problem with leaving my 3rd grader in, she loves school and tests. My 4th grader on the other hand has bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and learning disabilities. He is just starting testing to pinpoint what are the main areas of dysfunction in regards to school work. I don't want him to do the CTBS testing. He has test anxiety and, like I said, learning issues. My DH wants me to go in on Monday and tell them he won't be taking the tests, but I am worried that they are going to throw a big fit over it. So do you think I have a right to opt him out of this testing? The school would have to find something else for him to do during those mornings so they might take issue with that as well. Thanks for any input.

From the above, it sounds like you have a diagnosis, but are still working with professionals to sort out specific school accommodations. Is the school aware of the diagnosis or do you prefer to keep it private just now? You could ask your family doctor, treating psychiatrist or psychologist for a letter to support a request for an exemption from testing or special test accommodations like administering it in a separate room, removing time limits, asking for a scribe, using an oral test rather than in writing...

In some ways, the pressure is less with a Basic Skills test, if the results don't count toward grades or impact on class placement, e.g. getting into advanced group work or a gifted pull-out. The bigger problem is going to be routine class tests for grades.

In 4th grade, he's going to confront a fair amount of testing throughout the year, just as a normal part of school. Unless perhaps this private school doesn't routinely use tests?

I realize that you are dealing with the immediate problem of this Basic Skills test. It sounds like you'll need to plan with the school on how to handle testing throughout the year, and you may not have a great deal of time to sort it out. IME, teachers start giving a fair number of routine subject tests in October, so that they have marks for report cards in November. Of course, your school may be different (let's hope!).

[Heavenly]

ollyoxenfree - Yes, the school is aware of his diagnoses. That is the reason we switched to this school because they accomodate special needs children. Which is why I am surprised they haven't brought up the subject of the testing with me already. I'm going to call the school and request a meeting with the vice principal (she's the one who's handling all testing questions) and see whether they already had plans in place or whether I need to opt him out.

[ollyoxenfree]

If the school routinely accommodates for special needs, then it sounds like they won't object to a test exemption.

Another thought - since he is in the process of testing to sort out learning issues, won't this individual assessment process give a better picture of his skills - ability and achievement - than a group-rendered standardized test? I'm not sure how much more useful information they would get from the Basic Skills test. If they insist that it is necessary or that they cannot exempt him, then I'd ask for it to be adminstered in conjunction with the other assessment that's going on.

[Momily]

I can't say whether you can opt him out, because I don't know Canadian law, but I can say that at our school on testing day, every staff member is involved in some way, other than those needed to watch the grades not testing (who are often on field trips, in part to free up their rooms for small group testing). We have many small groups going on with adults needed to proctor them, plus we have staff rotating kids through recess so that the general ed groups are smaller . . .

I guess what I'm saying is that it would be a challenge to accomodate a child who wasn't participating. Is it an option for him to stay home that day or go somewhere else?

[Heavenly]

I e-mailed the vice-principal and she responded with a quick sentence on how they would accomodate him, thank you very much. Pardon me if that doesn't calm my fears. I am going to talk to his resource tomorrow and see what the plans are. Unless they are going to let him do the whole thing in the resource room with either a one to one aide or just him and a couple other kids and no time limit then we will insist they opt him out. My DH told me to get them to call him if they have an issue (we often find people listen better to a man, even though that's not right).

[meemee]

heavenly i am surprised.

there is an underhand 'politics' of opting out here in california though i have not heard anyone who this has happened to.

here if the student is not an ace student then the school suggests anxiety at test taking and voluntarily opt the children out for the test.

yet it is all initiated by the school. i hear this from teachers all the time.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by meemee

here if the student is not an ace student then the school suggests anxiety at test taking and voluntarily opt the children out for the test.

yet it is all initiated by the school. i hear this from teachers all the time.

That is exactly why some states have made it so that sn kids have to take the test. That kind of nonsense is why kids who have REAL problems cannot opt out in many, many states.

I have a child on the autism spectrum who can throw up in a parking lot about walking into a building, and could not opt out of testing in the state we lived in last year.

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by meemee

heavenly i am surprised.

there is an underhand 'politics' of opting out here in california though i have not heard anyone who this has happened to.

here if the student is not an ace student then the school suggests anxiety at test taking and voluntarily opt the children out for the test.

yet it is all initiated by the school. i hear this from teachers all the time.

It will depend on the purpose of the testing - whether it's motivated by external or internal forces.

If it's for an external review body (government, school board, etc.) then the school has an incentive to exclude underperforming students from the test. It artificially improves the school's results. The school will place higher on any kind of league tables used to compare schools and school district. The only motivation to test underperforming students is if schools with poor results get additional funding and support for underperforming, needy kids. I don't know if that ever happens - it seems like underperforming schools are punished, not supported.

If it's for internal purposes, then it's in the school's interest to test everyone. If the school is trying to determine subject areas or grades that need special attention then it will want an accurate picture of the entire class. (Let's leave aside any arguments about whether standardized testing produces an accurate picture! Obviously the school thinks it does and we're talking about understanding the school's motivations.)

It's not clear why this school is testing. Knowing what the school will do with the results may help with any discussions about exemptions or accommodations.