God Bless Alabama's Gov. Bentley For Being The First In The Nation To Say-- No Sit And Stare Policy During Common Core Testings.

God is merciful and heard the many pleas of Alabama's families on their knees in prayer.  Multitudes of heads bowed down in meetings after meetings have resulted in something akin to a miracle.  Governor Robert Bentley has taken a stand for the children of Alabama (please call him and thank him).  Parents can opt their child(ren) out of the assessments and will not have to suffer the sit and stare policies that most state are under. Principals and Superintendents across Alabama are being informed but many have given parents a hard time and there is a Petition (see link here) that is being sent to the Governor..  For other states...write letters to your leaders if denied.  The PPRA is in your student handbooks.  Charlotte Iserbyt cites it as important to use.  Support your Stop Common Core movement in your state by liking them on fb and getting pertinent information (Alabama's is Stop Common Core in Alabama).  And most importantly remember to pray as Ben Franklin cited in his speech in the Continental Congress.."have we forgotten that powerful friend?"  In Alabama, we have not...we acknowledge we have need of him.  To find out why this is important--to these two eye-opening interviews:  One is from Joan Landes--mental health therapist and the other is Anita Hogue who won a case using the PPRA --listen here and   here . 

In Alabama:  here is a sample of our original Opt Out Form which now has additions, that you can change to suit you (copy and paste).  Now that the Governor is behind parents, simpler letters are good.  Please note in many cases parents are turned down initially as schools are not used to this new way of thinking and information has not been shared across the state properly by Ed Dept.  Parents that are denied opt out have to ask the principal to contact Superintendent .  If still turned down then please call Tommy Bice office at 334 242-9704 and also send email to the Education Advisor in Gov Bentley's office get email at (334) 242-7100.  Same thing if there are threats that opting out of tests will affect next years advancement or getting in honors classes etc (one mom was told if kids don't take test, they can't qualify for presidential award next year because scores are factored into the award)--please call Tommy Bice office at 334 242-9704 and at same time email the Education Advisor with information so the Gov. office will see what is happening.  We are hearing from many happy parents.  God is good!

PPRA Notice and Consent/Opt-Out  (Model Notification--print on back)

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232h, requires[School District]to notify and obtain consent or allow  parents/guardians to opt  child out of participating in certain school activities. These activities include a student survey, analysis, or evaluation that concerns one or more of the following eight areas (“protected information surveys”):  1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; 2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family; 3. Sex behavior or attitudes; 4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior; 5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships; 6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers; 7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or 8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.  This requirement also applies to the collection, disclosure or use of student information for marketing purposes (“marketing surveys”) and physical exams and screenings.

I __________________________________________do not give my consent

for_______________________________
                              (parent)                                    (child)
to participate in any student survey, analysis, class, evaluation or other activity pertaining to any of the above-listed eight categories, and I direct that  said child be excused from any such activities including any of the following testing/assessment:
ACT Explore, ACT Plan, ACT Quality Core End-of-Course Assessments, ACT WorkKeys, ACT Plus Writing Assessment, ACT Aspire, Alabama Science Assessment, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

Also see checked items:
( __) Student should also be opted-out  of preliminary pre-testing associated with the assessments.
(___)Please notify me where my child will go during testing and if he/she will be allowed to read a book etc. (we are told  that there will be no sit and stare policy for children opting out, that they will be allowed other accommodation and will not be punished, investigated or retaliated upon.)
(___)My child will not take the assessments and will be kept at home during testing days.

Thank you for your cooperation.    

                                                                                                
____________________________________________________
Parent’s signature

Please make a copy for parent and place initial of school personnel receiving form here:__________.

Date:__________________________      School Year:____________________       

School Name and Address:        

Comments

[Cee]

While I am grateful Gov. Bentley has approved this policy, and acknowledge that prayer was certainly a part of it, there was more to it.
The Governor's office received a couple of hundred calls from concerned parents as did the State School Board's office.
I applaud the Governor for realizing and doing the right thing but I also applaud parents who called in voicing their concerns about this and asking the Governor to Do what was right.
:) Cee in N. AL