Lehighton votes down call to parents about tests

Parents will not be getting a “robocall” from Lehighton Area School District touting the benefits of opting out of state standardized tests.

The district’s school board narrowly rejected that motion last week with Directors Larry Stern, Wayne Wentz, Stephen Holland, Andrew Yenser and Rita Spinelli voting against it. A second motion to use the automated telephone call system to explain the pros and cons of opting out of the test failed by an identical 5-4 vote.

Several Lehighton board members said they felt parents needed more information about the choice to opt out of the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, or PSSA, tests.

“I have had parents contact me, who for various reasons did not want their children participating in standardized tests, and they don’t really know it is a choice,” Director Joy Beers said. “I think as a responsible school district, we should let people know they have that choice. I think it is good to share information.”

Director David Bradley Sr. said he shared about 90 pages of supporting documents outlining the benefits of opting out with the board.

“I know you don’t speak for our local association,” Lehighton teacher Mike Lusch said. “You never asked us or our leadership. As a parent, I already know it is an option for my children to opt out.”

Bradley and Tim Tkach, Lehighton’s assistant to the superintendent, shared differing takes on how opting out of the test affects a district’s School Performance Profile score, which is a component used when evaluating teachers.

Tkach said any student who opts out would be counted as a nonproficient achiever when the data is tallied, while Bradley said he had a conversation with a Pennsylvania Department of Education official who said there would be no adverse impact.

“In the past, students who opted out or otherwise didn’t take or complete a standardized test were not included in the calculation of achievement, so they were not counted at basic or below basic,” Nicole Reigelman, PDE communications director, said in an email Friday. “Starting in 2018, as required by federal law, if a school drops below 95 percent of students taking the test, any student above the 5 percent threshold will be counted as nonproficient.”

Included in the PSSA packets sent home to parents is information on the process of opting out. One parent in attendance last week said they never received that information and encouraged further communication from the district.

To opt out, a parent must first write send a letter to the school principal, alerting them of the intent to opt out. Several weeks before the test, the parent must sign a confidentiality agreement and view the tests. Another letter follows that from the parent, stating the tests are against his or her religious or philosophical beliefs.

A parent does not have to provide specific details.

From 2011 to 2015, opt-out requests rose from 624 to 7,890, according to PDE.

Gloria Bowman, a former Lehighton teacher, administrator and board member, said she personally believes opting out is counterproductive for students.

“It prevents them from seeing their individual growth,” Bowman told the board. “Information on opting out is already provided to parents. The state has also altered the number of tests taken to reduce the amount of classroom instruction time missed. I think we should support that new state model.”

The PSSA testing window will be condensed from three weeks to two, starting in 2018-19. It will also begin two weeks later than currently scheduled. One section each of the math and reading tests have already been eliminated and the number of science questions have been reduced.