PSSA opt-outs see huge jump in Philly

MORE THAN 500 students in the Philadelphia School District have already been opted out of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, a huge jump from only 20 students a year ago, officials said yesterday.

A district representative said 552 families have requested that their children be excused from PSSA testing, a figure that could rise. Students in grades 3 through 8 began to test this week on English language arts, with math and science to follow in the next two weeks.

The rise in opt-outs locally mirrors a national trend as more and more parents and educators voice concerns over the amount of time spent on test preparation rather than actual instruction. Hundreds of thousands of students have reportedly been opted out in New York.

In Pennsylvania, parents can decline to have their children take the PSSA on religious grounds.

A state Department of Education representative said statewide numbers will not be available until testing is completed and processed.

Alison McDowell, a parent and member of the Alliance for Philadelphia Public Schools, said she expects the movement to gain momentum, particularly if scores fall due to changes in the PSSA this year.

"We're building this network, and so when people get the information and they see the scores and know that they have other options, I think it can't help but grow next year," she said.

McDowell is part of a coalition distributing information about high-stakes testing. She said the diverse network of supporters across Pennsylvania is evidence that standardized testing is not just a Philadelphia issue.

"There are many, many people throughout this state that share this concern," she said, noting support across racial and economic groups.

Students are also involved. Several at Science Leadership Academy, one of the city's top magnet schools, recently launched a website with student testimonies on why standardized tests don't show the whole picture.

"Our school is project-based and so we strongly believe in project-based learning and we don't think that tests reveal our best selves," said Nomi Martin-Brouillette, a senior at SLA and a member of the Philadelphia Student Union.

"Not only do they not test how passionate we are or how wise we are, they simply don't test how smart we are," she said.

Both Martin-Brouillette and McDowell also plan to raise awareness about the Keystone exams, which will become a Pennsylvania graduation requirement starting with the class of 2017. Students can be excused from the exams, but they must complete a project-based assessment. There is a movement to change state law so that the test is not a graduation requirement.

"It's impacting instruction right now," McDowell said of the Keystones. "There are going to be very serious consequences and not just for Philadelphia."