The Manchester School Board’s Curriculum and Instruction Committee has approved a measure letting parents pull their child from taking tests linked to the Common Core standards.
The proposal includes a mail campaign to inform parents of this option. The letters would state that there would be no penalties if they choose to opt out of the Smarter Balanced test. And parents would need to notify the child’s principal of the decision in writing.
Citing state law, district officials said it doesn’t have the authority to grant parents an exemption. But committee members disagreed, saying it was a matter of parental rights. The proposal will be voted on by the full board next month.
The school board adopted the statewide tests earlier this month, reversing its position to have the district opt out. State education officials said doing so would jeopardize millions in federal aid.
