Opting Out of the State Tests ..... Here's How: Send this letter to school

Give this letter to your Principal: 

Dear Mr. ________________________________(Principal) 

Please accept this letter as my request to excuse my child, __________________________, from participation in all state testing. This is my right under §60615 of the California Education Code.
I understand that it is an educator’s professional duty to assess the learning of students and I fully support our teachers, our principal and our staff in doing so. This request is not intended to restrict professional assessment by the classroom teacher to which my child is assigned. I am exercising my right to opt out of the state assessments because the continued budget cuts to education demonstrate a lack of support for student learning in the classroom. This must change, children's learning must be supported with proper funding, safe transportation, adequate and updated materials and smaller class sizes. If it is not, I will not support state testing. 

Sincerely,

Tell Governor Brown and the California Legislature to Restore Funding to California's Public Schools or Parents Will Boycott All State Tests

Go to Change.org link to show your support! 

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-governor-brown-and-the-california-legislature-to-restore-funding-to-california-s-public-schools-or-parents-will-boycott-all-state-tests

Why This Is Important

Our children need quality education, and our state needs to invest in its future by hiring more teachers, reducing class-size, and providing safe transportation to and from schools.

Administering and scoring standardized assessments in California costs tax payers approximately $2 Billion per year or $379 per student (grades 2nd-12th).

California Ed Code Section 60615 allows parents the right to opt out of the state tests. Parents can pressure our state legislators and school district leaders to provide our children with safe access to a quality education by exercising this right to opt out of state assessments.

We are in favor of educational accountability; however, if our children's learning is not supported, we will exercise our right to opt out of all state assessments. Children's learning must be supported. If it is not, we will not support state testing.

Here’s how to act:
1) Sign and share petition.
2) If you have children in school, inform your district administrators that unless school funding is restored you will exercise your right to opt out of all state assessments this spring.
3) Write or call Governor Brown and your state legislators and tell them to make education funding a priority in the following ways:
* Rescind Teacher Lay-Offs and hire new teachers;
* Reduce class sizes
* Restore funding to provide safe transportation to and from schools

PLEASE JOIN US IN DEMANDING THAT OUR LOCAL AND STATE LEADERS MAKE FUNDING PUBLIC EDUCATION A PRIORITY.