Students in the class of 2015 and 2016
do not have to take the Keystone exams
School districts can require students in the class of 2015 and 2016 to take the Keystone exams in Algebra 1, Biology and Literature and they can also have a school district policy that states students must score proficient or higher. However, PA School Code Chapter 4 allows for parents to opt out their children based on religious beliefs. Chapter 4 also states that the parental opt out request cannot be denied.
§ 4.4. General policies. (complete text here)Students in the class of 2015 and 2016 who opt out of the Keystone re-test should be removed from all remedial Keystone classes immediately. Here is a sample letter that can be sent to the superintendent, principal and teachers:
(5) If upon inspection of State assessments parents or guardians find the assessment in conflict with their religious belief and wish their students to be excused from the assessment, the right of the parents or guardians will not be denied upon written request to the applicable school district superintendent, charter school chief executive officer or AVTS director.
Dear:
Pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4)(5) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [Name], excused from Keystone testing because of religious beliefs. Please remove [student name] from the Keystone Algebra 1 class immediately.
I am aware that the School Board can approve a policy that students are required to pass the Keystone exams. However, School Districts do not have the authority to override the state law, in this case PA School Code Chapter 4.
For your convenience I have provided you below with School Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4)(5). Please note where it states: “... parents or guardians find the assessment in conflict with their religious belief and wish their students to be excused from the assessment, the right of the parents or guardians will not be denied”.
Thank you for your attention in this matter and for immediate removal of [student name] from all Keystone classes.
Sincerely,The entire process to opt out of the Keystone exam is explained HERE - you might want to read this process prior to reading the FAQ below.
Page 9 of the 2015 Handbook for Assessment Coordinators is from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and also explains the entire opt out process.
Keystone Exam FAQ
Do I need to explain my religious beliefs with specific questions from the PSSA test on my opt out letter?
No. A parent simply states "because of religious beliefs." This is all that needs to be included in the letter:
Pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4)(5) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [Name] excused from Keystone testing because of religious beliefs.
Parents must sign a confidentiality agreement. If they state anything specific from the Keystone exam, THEY WILL BREACH THE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. Parents cannot, by nature of the confidentiality agreement, write specifically what they oppose for religious reasons on the Keystone exam.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education explains this, see page 4, question 10 at Chapter 4 FAQ.
So, as long as a parent or guardian reviews the state assessment and provides a written statement providing his/her written objection for religious purposes (however vague that objection may be), the child must be excused from the assessment. PDE will not provide an opinion as to what is a proper religious objection.This false statement, and other similar false statements have been given to parents from their school districts (see above paragraph for clarification):
The Pennsylvania Department of Education has made it clear that any objection to the testing materials for religious reasons must be specific in nature, must note the specific question or questions that are objectionable and the specific, religious reason for your objection. Please note a general statement of religious objection does not meet the intention of this review and will not be considered for possible exemption.
Department of Education Chapter 48, Subchapter 1- General Provisions of the United States Code, §3401.3 Congressional Findings, “parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children, and the States, localities, and private institutions have the primary responsibility for supporting that parental role”
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this Elysia! I am going to look further into this and incorporate it into the informations I've gathered here. This could b very valuable!
DeleteAlso, couldn't the school and state asking for us to citing specific details that conflict with religious beliefs violate the 1st amendment?
ReplyDeleteYes it would! Also, if a parent is specific about the test a it relates to their religious beliefs, they would be breaching the confidentiality agreement that they singed on review of the test.
DeleteIf you just cite the policy specifically and leave out the written "for religious reasons" will it still be valid? Since the policy cited is indicating that opting out is d/t religious reasons? Thank you for your help! I just want to make sure there are no loop holes in my final draft!!
DeleteI don't know legally what would be best. I would think have both the state religious opt out wording AND the USDOE citation would be best. That is a very good question! Please let me know how it goes!
DeleteThank you! I will!
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ReplyDeleteIf you opt out of the test for religious reasons, would the student still be required to take the Project Based class that is required of all the students who do not pass the Keystone, or can you opt out of that too for religious reasons?
ReplyDeleteThe class of 2015 and 2016 will not be required to do the project-based assessment (PBA). The PBA is an 'alternative pathway' to the grad requirement and will only be offered to students in the class of 2017 and beyond. However, students have been placed in a remedial Keystone class, and opting out of the Keystone exams would also remove students from the remedial Keystone class.
DeleteMy child is in the class of 2017. Are you saying that if I opt her out of the Keystone exams she will be required to complete the PBAs instead?
DeleteCurrently yes, students in the class of 2017 and beyond will be required to do the PBA. I have refused the PBA and since my school district is not offering them yet, they haven't really addressed it.
DeleteMy child is graduating in 2016 and his school is making him take a PBA class.
ReplyDeleteOk ... but do we know what the state rgs are? Schools can what they want, but I want to know what the state requirements are so I know how to fight the system.
DeleteCN: Go to this link from the PDE and see question #34. http://static.pdesas.org/Content/Documents/Ch4%20Guidance%20FAQ%2010-9-14.pdf
Delete34. Is the PBA available to students who will graduate before 2016-17?
No. Its sole purpose is to satisfy state graduation requirements.
I would like to hear more about what your son is taking. I am hearing more and more stories like yours and I wonder if they are offering the PBA as a field test. Is he doing this on the computer? You can email me at optoutpatest@gmail.com - or reply here. Thanks!
What are you looking for specifically? The PBA, Keystones, PSSA?
ReplyDeleteHere is a link I was given from the PA DOE.
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/022/chapter4/s4.4.html
What can we do when it is still aligned with keystones? in my perspective, this is like saying if you don't have a computer then take the exact same test in written form. It doesn't change the test, merely the way it is being administered.
ReplyDeleteHi Tammy - we cannot opt out of the PBA. You are correct that the PBA is aligned to the content of Keystone exam. The fact that the PBA is not available for review is in conflict with Chapter 4. I believe it is set up that way because if a parent reviews it, they would have reason to opt out of it.
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