My Family Is Opting Out of the STAAR Again. Here's What I've Learned

We have opted out of STAAR testing again this year. This will be our fourth year opting out, including the supposed "benchmark" years of fifth and eighth grades.Here are my answers to some FAQs about not taking the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness standardized tests:No, none of our children have been held back, failed, penalized with grades, flogged, tarred and feathered, or paraded around the school and mocked.No, we are not opposed to all standardized testing. We are opposed to standardized testing that is poorly written, racially biased and developmentally inappropriate for children.No, we don't want to teach our children to avoid difficult things. Go hang around your local public school. Our children are dealing with difficult things every day of the year. You know what else is difficult? Standing up for yourself and speaking out for others.Yes, my children have all chosen their electives and attended all field trips. If your school has communicated that a "bad" score equals any of these being taken away, please refer them to the following from the Texas Education Code:"The results of individual student performance on academic skills assessment instruments administered under this subchapter are confidential and may be released only in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974."Not only would this be unethical and despicable behavior, it violates students' privacy rights under federal law.No, none of my kids has ever been held back. For the benchmark years, we held a grade placement committee meeting. It lasted five minutes. Unless your child was already in a place of not being promoted, the STAAR does not matter.No, none of my kids has attended "required" tutoring or summer school. The school is required to offer it. You are not required to agree to it. If your child needs tutoring, by all means, go for it. If not, and the school says must go, ask for data in writing for the evidence that your child is not learning that subject, and ask for the written documentation that tutoring is required by law. Not a district policy, the law. Trust me, you won't be given it.No, our children's schools or teachers have not been penalized. Ask your district for written documentation on how schools have been penalized because of test scores or kids who don't take the test.No, we aren't just trying to be rebellious or protect our kids. We refuse to participate in a system that is hurts all kids, but especially minorities and kids with disabilities, and absolutely kills the spirits of teachers and staff. We are standing up for teachers just as much as our kids.No, I don't know why the truth isn't always told. I don't know why children are having anxiety attacks over lies. I don't know why every teacher I've ever talked to hasn't been told the truth. I'll let you know if I ever get a good answer.Brandy Butler is a parent in Richardson ISD. She wrote this column as a Facebook post and gave The Dallas Morning News permission to publish.  Continue reading...