Why the pushback?
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| SC Department of Education COO, Betsy Carpentier speaking at the SCASA meeting April 17, 2015 |
In the last few weeks, Opt Out South Carolina parents have been trying to figure out why they have received such extreme pushback from their schools when they refuse state testing for their children, and they now know why. On Thursday, April 17, 2015, the SC Department of Education (SCDE) addressed approximately 80 people at an Instructional Leaders’ Roundtable Discussion hosted by the SC Association of School Administrators. SCDE Chief Operating Officer Betsy Carpentier gave some pretty intense guidance to our school district leaders. According to this account and this account of what was said, here are some highlights from the presentation on how school districts should respond to Opt Out parents:
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If parents try to opt out of tests, school
districts should not allow it. Instead,
they should just refer parents to this letter from SCDE Deputy Superintendent
Nancy Busbee. Hanging up on parents who
call was also mentioned as a tactic. (No need for an actual conversation.)
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School districts should make sure these
opt out kids are in the testing room, because then maybe they will give in and
take the tests. (You know, against the written refusal of the parent.)
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If any of these kids act up or refuse the
test, schools should deal with them as a behavior problem. (“But
my mother said…”)
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In some “you didn’t hear this from me”
remarks, if students miss test days, parents could spend an automatic 30 days in jail. (yes,
JAIL) In fact, if a student misses
just one test day, he can be reported for truancy. This all goes back to the public school contract
that parents sign. (Uh…contract?) In addition
to that, if any of these “crazy parents” or groups suggest that a parent keep a
child home on test days, they can be charged with aiding and abetting. (Okay, now
I’ve lost count of the number of threats.)
The audience was also reassured that the SCDE was handling and
controlling the Opt Out problem. The SCDE will get ahead of the parents by
going to the media with their spin, making parental concerns "null and void."
And Just to be Clear...
On the day after this
meeting, every public school in South Carolina received this memo from the SC DOE. The language in the
memo is tamer than what was said at the meeting, but it is easy to connect the
dots and fill in the blanks.
We Want Answers
What was not said and what
continues to be withheld by the SCDE is the answer to Opt Out parents’
question: "Can you show me a state or
federal law that requires my child to take these tests or denies me the right
to refuse these tests?"
With one week until testing and no one knowing who will be tested, disciplined or jailed, I wrote our governor and state legislators this letter. Stay tuned for updates.
With one week until testing and no one knowing who will be tested, disciplined or jailed, I wrote our governor and state legislators this letter. Stay tuned for updates.
