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Opt Out Movement Lives

August 29th, 2016 by flanews

A judge’s ruling last week that said schools weren’t following the law by not allowing some students to enter the fourth grade over a reading test could be just the tip of the iceberg for changes to Florida’s testing system. Our Matt Galka got reaction from testing opt out advocates.

The department of education and some school districts were reprimanded by a Leon County judge last week.  Judge Karen Gievers sided with parents and students who said the children shouldn’t have been held back in the third grade for not answering questions on a state mandated reading test.  The students had no prior reading deficiencies. Opt out supporter Beth Overholt called it a win.

“We feel like Judge Gievers ruled in our favor, we feel like this is a big win for us, we’re thrilled,” she said.

And opt out advocates say the ruling could add fuel to the fire of the movement.

“The opt out movement isn’t against testing, ok? We want the test to be used to inform instruction, not to penalize and punish, and that’s what we have in Florida. The Tests penalize and punish our kids,” said Overholt.

Bob Schaeffer with the group FairTest says that students being held back harms kids in the long run.

“This policy that’s been in effect in Florida is based on faith or ideology or politics, not on educational evidence or, most importantly, it’s not based on what’s best for our children,” he said.

And while the ruling from last week only applies to third grade tests, Schaeffer says he wouldn’t be surprised if more change was coming.

“The victory in court, presuming that it holds up on appeal, could be the first step towards a total overhaul of Florida’s testing system,” he said.

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