PARCC Testing Refusal Letters Coming In to EP Schools. Testing begins March 16th.

During last nights EP School Committee meeting speakers and School Committee members reminded parents that they can have their children "Opt-out" or refuse to take the controversial Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) tests starting on March 16th.

While the Superintendent of Schools and others are required by Federal and State law to administer the tests, parents have the right to submit a letter of refusal for their child.

The discussion was started by two parents, Victoria Jessop and Lynn Clarke. "We are two of many parents who have sent in our refusal letters for PARCC testing," said Jessop. "We are happy to get your support (administration) for us to submit. I have received my letter response from Martin Middle School and am awaiting one from my child's elementary school. Thank you for respecting us as parents," added Jessop.

Lynn Clarke did not want their refusals of PARCC testing to be viewed as negative feelings about local schools. "Our PARCC refusal should in no way reflect badly on teachers, administrators or school board members," Clarke said. "We believe in our highly qualified teachers," she added. "We like how teachers measure our childrens progress from daily work, homework, tests, etc.

Many parents object to the testing which won't reflect their child's final grades. One crusader against the PARCC testing is former school committee and city council member, Chrissy Rossi. Rossi has been an outspoken critic of PARCC and attended the school committee meeting last night to object. She also wanted to remind parents of their right to have their children refuse to take the test.

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a group of states working together to develop a set of assessments that measure whether students are on track to be successful in college and their careers, claims the PARCC administration.

"These high quality K–12 assessments in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy give teachers, schools, students, and parents better information whether students are on track in their learning and for success after high school, and tools to help teachers customize learning to meet student needs," says the PARCC web page.

"As parents, you need to do what you feel is best for your children and federal laws protect your right to parent," Rossi has said in discussing this matter in the past few months. "Some schools have not been getting back to parents on this testing issue," Rossi told the school committee last night. "Parents have sent in their refusal letters and are not getting an answer back," added Rossi.

"All principals have been directed to forward me their opt-out letters. We will have IT (technology) take the child's name out (of the database) so they don't have to take the test," said Superintendent of Schools Kim Mercer.

Rossi contended that Oldham, Riverside Middle and East Providence High schools have not been accepting the letters of refusals. Teachers from those schools in attendance said that they don't believe that to be the case. "We've had students at the high school bring in letters and they've been accepted. I saw some today," said one high school department head in the audience.

Nathan Cahoon, Ward 3 school committee member has offered a lot of questions regarding the PARCC testing. I'm sure you know that our kids are being heavily assessed. "I want to understand the purpose and authority behind those assessments, the cost to the district, and I want to understand how (if) the resulting data is being used to benefit our kids. Most importantly, I want parents to understand this," Cahoon said recently. "I want to remind all that these testing mandates don't give the administration a choice. It is a Federal mandate handed down to the states through the B.E.P. (basic education plan), Cahoon told the audience last night.

School officials will provide an alternate place in school with reading or other assignments in lieu of taking the PARCC test.

Rossi continues to be against the PARCC testing. "In case you're questioning the bogus nature of these tests, once your child signs in with their personally identifiable information, their data is forever stored in the Pearson Publishing database for any of their "partners" to access. There is also a survey that will be taken at the end of the testing that will ask your children personal questions," Rossi said. The test is administered on computer. "We have great teachers and bright children but this over testing and systematic destruction of public education is wrong and we need to get it in check. I choose to help fix it," stated Rossi previous to last night's meeting.

Below is a link to provide parents with the draft letter that needs to be sent to their child's school in order for them to refuse taking the test:

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=8c8e0b56c1&view=att&th=14c06495143efeff&attid=0.1&disp=inline&realattid=1495305664604405760-local0&safe=1&zw