Testing doesn’t add up

Regarding “State’s student exam rates not up to par, feds warn (Dec. 31)”: As noted, the U.S. Department of Education is threatening to withhold funding from Washington schools with less than a 95 percent participation rate on federally mandated student exams.

Since it is the legal right of every Washington parent or guardian to opt their child out of these exams, the feds are essentially trying to punish the school when parents exercise their legal rights. But the schools can’t control what these parents decide to do. This means that your child’s school can be economically punished for something out of the school’s control. In addition, opt-outs are given a zero on the test, which can result in additional punishments for the school.

So my message here is to those who have children in our state’s public schools. If the federal government punishes your child’s school with reduced funding, it will likely have a negative impact for your child.

If the feds want to mandate participation rates, let them introduce legislation that forces parents to subject their child to these tests even when it’s against their best judgment. Until that happens, schools have no business impeding parental rights just to protect funding.

Andy James

Colville