Parents Voice Frustration at Increased Testing in Schools

With growing frustration at increased high stakes testing being implemented at the elementary school level in districts throughout New York State under newly required Common Core learning standards, some local parents are fighting back and considering opting their children out of the upcoming assessments. 

A question posed to parents in the Wantagh Mommas Facebook Group last week about whether they were going to refuse to allow their children to take state assessments drew 105 comments as of Thursday night with many saying they were leaning toward going that route. 

"There is a rather large avalanche that has been gathering related to assessments and the common core [standards]," said Seaford Superintendent of Schools Brian Conboy during Thursday night's board of education meeting held at Seaford Manor School. 

During the public comments portion of Thursday's meeting, some Seaford parents voice their anger toward their children being overly prepped for state assemengent exams during Thursday night's Seaford Board of Education meeting. 

"They are being set up to fail," said Heather Bulone, who has a third grader in the Seaford School District. "People need to wake up and smell the roses." 

"Their confidence is in the toilet," said Amy Holt, who also has a third grader in the Seaford schools and is a third grade teacher herself. 

Conboy said he and his administration have received numerous calls and emails from parents upset about pressure their children are under to prepare for more rigorous state exams this spring. Conboy said while he understands the frustrations, the New York State Department of Education has advised the district that parents are not able to opt their children out of the exams. He said if a student leaves the exam blank, it will be coded in the state system as a "refusal." 

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