Texans are taking a stand against the state’s standardized testing program, known as STAAR. Parents are opting their children out of the assessment, a move that is possible but not without potential consequences.
According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), a minimum of 95% of students must participate in STAAR testing or the state could penalize the district. However, students and parents face no direct consequences for opting out.
Despite this, many families feel there are indirect consequences. “We need to do better and stick up for our kids because if we don’t advocate for them, then no one else will,” said Lillian Wesley, a Garland ISD mother.
Wesley is the mother of 11th grader, Joven Wesley, who opted out of STAAR testing during the week of April 15. “I grew up being dyslexic for a while without being diagnosed,” said Joven Wesley. “Even with being diagnosed and going through all the classes, it’s hard for students like myself to really sit there and actually try to grasp it without messing up on anything. They’re always trying to push us for passing or above passing on any level.”
Wesley’s mother opted him out because she felt the pressure of the test was causing him unnecessary stress and anxiety. “They push it so hard that he just gets stressed out,” said Lillian Wesley. “He gets anxiety. He can’t sleep. He just he dreads going to school for testing. Some parents are like, just get over it and take a test. No, we all have choices in life and you can’t dictate to me what my child has to do.”
Opting out of STAAR requires specific measures. Families who choose to opt out still feel penalized for their decision. “I ended up getting pulled out of my first period class and I was told that I will not pass and they made it very obviously, that they were trying to raise their voice,” added Joven Wesley. “I was in the hallway, so I’m pretty sure that all my classmates heard that.”
Hope Smith, a Killeen ISD parent, has a son in 5th grade who is autistic. He has opted out of STAAR testing since 3rd grade. “It just brought a lot of anxiety to him,” said Smith. “These teachers hound these kids about the STAAR assessment so bad to where it was, like, deteriorating him emotionally. It was giving him anxiety.”
This family too felt the consequence of opting out from teachers. “He was punished and didn’t get an ice cream like everybody else,” added Smith. “You just humiliated him in front of everybody because now the whole classroom has ice cream except for my child. You singled him out. You’re punishing him. For what? He did absolutely nothing wrong.”
Smith says you can submit a blank assessment to exercise your right to not participate in STAAR. “Parents have Texas rights,” said Smith. “We have our right to opt out our children.”
Despite potential penalties, Texas families are continuing to advocate for their children. “Our kids deserve better,” Smith told 6 News. “We need to come together and support parents who are standing up for what’s right. Our children’s education is too important to be sacrificed for a test score.”
