Connecticut House Bill HB05398

Connecticut 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/15/15
• Refer: 1/15/15

Caption

An Act Concerning Parental Opt Out Of State-wide Examinations For Students.

Impact

By implementing HB05398, state laws around educational assessments will shift to underscore parental autonomy in decision-making regarding their child's education. This bill is likely to encourage a more personalized approach to student learning and testing, where parents can evaluate the appropriateness of standardized assessments for their child's educational journey. Additionally, it may reduce the prevalence of mandated high-stakes testing, opening the door for alternative assessment measures to be considered that align more closely with individual student needs.

Summary

House Bill 05398 is legislated to amend section 10-14n of the general statutes, specifically allowing parents or guardians the right to opt their children out of state-wide examinations, such as the Smarter Balanced Assessment. The bill recognizes the concerns surrounding standardized testing and engages in the broader conversation regarding parental rights in educational decisions. By enabling this opt-out provision, the bill seeks to give parents more control over their children's testing requirements, notably in light of increasing debates about the efficacy and impact of standardized assessments on student wellbeing.

Contention

However, the bill also raises points of contention. Opponents argue that allowing opt-outs may undermine the validity and reliability of state assessments, potentially skewing performance data that is critical for educational policy and funding decisions. There may be fears that this would exacerbate educational inequities, as schools with higher numbers of students opting out could see reduced state funding and support. Thus, the disagreement largely revolves around balancing parental rights with the perceived importance of maintaining uniform accountability measures in the education system.