More GOOD NEWS for parents! Stop Common Core in Michigan received a copy of a memo from the House Legislative research division to Senator Proos office affirming that there is NO LAW requiring students to take assessments. This memo, posted below, supports the previous information we posted from the MDE which you can read here. In that post, the MDE also admits there are NO rewards or consequences to the school this year.
If you would like to notify your student’s school that your child is opting out and refusing the M-STEP, you can find the procedure and form here (How to Opt-Out with FAQ). M-STEP testing is scheduled to being in many schools in the coming weeks. Parents this is the time to stand up and let your voice be heard.
Here is the memo…
Research Services Division
MEMORANDUM
Date: April 2, 2015
To: The Honorable John Proos, State Senator
Attn: Barry Szczesny
From: Mary Guerriero, Research AnalystRe: Opt-out of State Assessments (Request #15-00575)
In response to your request, the Research Services Division is providing information about state law as it applies to parents or students opting out of state education assessments.
Michigan state law does not specifically require students to take assessments. According to Michigan Department of Education officials, while there is no way a school can require students to be present on test and re-test days, there are federal and state requirements that are interpreted to mean that at least 95% of students must participate in assessments. A change in state law to allow for a special “opt out” of testing might jeopardize some federal education funding for Michigan.
Ideally, the state would like to see all students tested. In 2001, the State Board of Education established the following policy regarding the MEAP:
It shall be the policy of the State Board of Education that each local and intermediate school district, and public school academy, will ensure the participation of all students in the Michigan Educational Assessment System.Federal Law
Under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), to make adequate yearly progress (AYP) schools must have a 95% participation rate for state assessments. In 2012, Michigan, along with most other states, applied for, and received, a waiver from the AYP standards. Our new flexibility agreement with the federal government still requires reporting of the assessment participation rate as part of a school’s accountability scorecard rating. Schools must report as to why students were not tested. There are exemptions, such as for students transferring from the district before the testing window, or for students who attend public school part-time, but who are primarily non-public or home-schooled.Consequences for Schools
Michigan schools and districts must meet this assessment participation requirement as one condition of state accreditation (see MCL 380.1280 and 380.1280b). If unaccredited for 3 consecutive years, the state superintendent can appoint an administrator for the school, require a school improvement plan, or close the school. LSB Research Request #15-00575 he assessment participation rate can also affect a school’s accountability scorecard by changing the color for participation to “red” if not enough students are tested in a particular subgroup or subject area. (The color coding system for schools is part of the Michigan Department of Education’s new plan to rate schools as required under the ESEA flexibility waiver. It has been challenged by some lawmakers with measures being considered to change to a letter grade system). If schools are categorized as “red” for two consecutive years (or for 3 out of 5 years) they are named a priority school and put under the direction of the School Reform Officer. This status requires implementation of an intervention reform model defined by the U.S. Department of Education.