McDermott Warns Parents Not to Opt-Out Children from State Exams

Northport-East Northport School District Superintendent Marylou McDermott distributed a letter recently, warning parents not to opt-out their children from new, more rigorous state tests.

"The District recognizes that testing of any sort can be stressful for children," the letter reads. "However, we must encourage participation by all -- given the impact that test refusal could bring to a teacher, school or the District."  

The tests are given to third through eighth graders and align with the new Common Core curriculum, which was implemented in the state this year.

A movement to boycott the tests by "opting-out" has spread across the state, fueled by parents and teachers concerned that curriculums are increasingly geared toward standardized testing. Real education, they say, is being overshadowed.

In her letter, McDermott warned that opting out is not recognized as a legal option by the state.

"We as a district have no authority to allow students to opt-out," she wrote, "and the information gained from this testing enables us to better plan our students’ academic program in the coming school year." Read the full letter here.

Are you opting your child out from the new state tests? Tell us why or why not in the comment section below.