tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52685725869847339822024-03-05T02:59:09.340-05:00Opt Out PennsylvaniaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-38335568178335641752021-05-26T20:23:00.000-04:002021-05-26T20:23:01.350-04:00M*sk Exemption for School Students<p><span style="background-color: white; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">A doctors note is no longer required for a mask exemption in Pennsylvania. Students can have a 504 for any medical reason. </span><span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Before the end of this school year send an email to your child’s school nurse and principal, also CC the following on the email: Chester County Health Department, Jeanne Franklin and the Chester County Commissioners (email addresses below). The email should state: </span> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">My child will no longer wear a mask to school due to (choose/add): </span><span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">anxiety, asthma, hypoxia, hypercapnia, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">shortness of breath, increased acidity, immunosuppression, fatigue, decline in cognitive performance, chronic stress, anxiety and depression. </span><span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">Please include a mask exemption for the above mention health conditions as a 504 accommodation for my child. This is not a request, my child [students name] will no longer wear a mask to school. </span><span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></b></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Send email to your school principal, school nurse and CC: </p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration-line: inherit;">jcasner@chesco.org, </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">cchd@chesco.org, </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">cccommissioners@chesco.org, </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">jmaxwell@chesco.org, </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">mkichline@chesco.org, </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">mmoskowitz@chesco.org</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></blockquote><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="x_s2" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>** Its important to do this before the end of this school year, 2020-2021 to see what the school districts response is, either a 504 mask exemption, or they will respond with their reason why they refuse a 504 mask exemption. This is a legal obligation on behalf of the school district. </p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s2" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NOTE: <span class="x_Apple-converted-space" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span>A 504 is a legal obligation that the school must follow. </span></p><p class="x_p3" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="x_s2" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="x_s3" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“504 plans</span><span class="x_s2" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> are formal </span><span class="x_s3" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">plans</span><span class="x_s2" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> that schools develop to give kids with disabilities the support they need. That covers any condition that limits daily activities in a major way. These </span><span class="x_s3" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">plans</span><span class="x_s2" style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> prevent discrimination. And they protect the rights of kids with disabilities in school.” </span><span style="color: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Source: </span><a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1" href="https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/special-services/504-plan/what-is-a-504-plan#" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/special-services/504-plan/what-is-a-504-plan#</a></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b style="color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></b></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b style="color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">PA Department of Health states:</b></p><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.778rem; margin: 0px auto 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 800; line-height: inherit;">Do students with disabilities need to wear face coverings?</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Children two years old and older are required to wear a face covering unless they have a medical or mental health condition or disability, documented in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), that precludes the wearing of a face covering in school. Accommodations for such students should be made in partnership with the student's health care provider, school nurse, and Individual Education Plan (IEP)/Section 504 team.</p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 800; line-height: inherit;"></span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.778rem; margin: 0px auto 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 800; line-height: inherit;">May a school request evidence that someone qualifies for an exception to the Order?</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />Schools must require all students over 2 years of age to wear face coverings, except for any student who has a medical or mental health condition or disability that precludes the wearing of a face covering in school. Notwithstanding the exceptions in Section 3 or the Order, schools may require medical documentation. The Pennsylvania Department of Education recommends that any documentation that is provided be in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or IDEA of such medical or mental health condition or disability.</p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: Segoe UI, Segoe UI Web (West European), Segoe UI, -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, Helvetica Neue, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Source: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Guidance/Universal-Masking-FAQ.aspx</span></span></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="x_p2" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: "Segoe UI", "Segoe UI Web (West European)", "Segoe UI", -apple-system, system-ui, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-21724410915317450992021-03-04T10:06:00.003-05:002021-03-13T05:13:18.619-05:00PSSA Opt Out 2021<p><span face="arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 22px;">How to Opt Out of the PSSA's</span></p><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="post-header" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1590355672816015872" itemprop="description articleBody" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><u style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 1</b></u><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><b>:</b> </span><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Parent sends letter to the building principal that you plan to opt out.</span></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1590355672816015872" itemprop="description articleBody" style="line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><b><u>STEP 2</u>:</b> </span><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">Parent reviews test at school. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;"><b><u>STEP 3</u>:</b> </span><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">Parent sends another letter stating that you have reviewed the test and are <span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>opting out for religious beliefs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><u style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 1</b></u><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><b>:</b> </span><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Parent sends letter to the building principal that you plan to opt out.</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>SAMPLE LETTER:</b></span></blockquote><h4 style="color: #222222; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Dear Principal,</span></span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [NAME], excused from PSSA testing because of religious beliefs.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Sincerely,</span></blockquote></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><u>STEP 2</u>: </span><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">Parent reviews test at school.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Two weeks prior to the testing window, exams must be made available for review.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">School districts must provide a convenient time for the review. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Parents will need sign the '</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Parent Confidentiality Agreement' that simply states they will not share what is on the test with anyone</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><u>STEP 3</u>: </span><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-weight: normal;">Parent sends another letter stating that you have reviewed the test and are opting out for religious beliefs. This letter can be handed in at the time you review the PSSA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">SAMPLE LETTER: </span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Dear Principal,</span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">On [Date] I had the opportunity to review the PSSA test and pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [Name] excused from PSSA testing because of religious </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">beliefs. </span></span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Sincerely,</span></blockquote><span face=""helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif">principal or Superintendent reviews the request and this request cannot be denied.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="font-weight: normal;">School personnel must provide an alternative learning environment for the student during the assessment and complete the “Non-Assessed Students” grid by selecting “Student had a parental request for exclusion from the assessment.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times;">Please note that the only reason for opting out is religious beliefs and you do not need to provide any specific details as to what your religious beliefs are, just state "for religious beliefs". Also, letters can be mailed or emailed. I like emails because then you have record that it was sent.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 17.424px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div></div></h4><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">PSSA Opt Out - Frequently Asked Questions</h3><h4 style="color: #222222; font-size: 17.424px; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left; text-size-adjust: none;"><div class="post-header" style="font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5687717075640402956" itemprop="description articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><b>1. Do I need to explain my religious beliefs with specific questions from the PSSA test on my opt out letter?</b></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><b><u>No. A parent simply states "because of religious beliefs."</u> </b> Once a parent reviews the PSSA, this is all that needs to be included in the letter:</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span style="line-height: 18px;">On [Date] I had the opportunity to review the PSSA test and pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [Name] excused from PSSA testing because of religious </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">beliefs. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></blockquote><div class="UFICommentContent" data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0" style="line-height: 16px;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1" style="color: #990000;"><b>Parents must sign a confidentiality agreement. If they state anything specific from the PSSA test, THEY WILL BREACH THE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. <u>Parents cannot, by nature of the confidentiality agreement, write specifically what they oppose for religious reasons on the PSSA test.</u></b></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.6"></span></span></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1" style="color: #990000;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif">The Pennsylvania Department of Education explains this, see page 4, question 10 at <a href="http://static.pdesas.org/Content/Documents/Ch4%20Guidance%20FAQ%2010-9-14.pdf" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">Chapter 4 FAQ</a>.</span><br /><div class="page" title="Page 4"><div class="section" style="margin: 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><div class="layoutArea"><div class="column"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt;">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 </span><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt;">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.</span></blockquote><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div></div></div></div></div><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif">This <b><u><i>false</i></u></b> statement, and other similar <b><u><i>false</i></u></b> statements have been given to parents from their school districts:</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif">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.</span></blockquote><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"> <b>2. My child is opted out of the PSSA testing, what will they do while their classmates are taking the PSSA's?</b></span><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif" style="line-height: 18px;">According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) </span><a href="http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/http;//www.portal.state.pa.us;80/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_148494_1319767_0_0_18/PSSA%20Handbook%20for%20Assessment%20Coordinators.pdf" style="color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-decoration-line: none;">on page 9 of the PSSA Handbook.</a><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif" style="line-height: 18px;"> :</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 18px;"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif">If the student is excused from the assessment due to parental or guardian request, <u><b>school personnel must provide an alternative learning environment for the student </b></u>during the assessment and select “Student had a parental request for exclusion from the assessment."</span></blockquote><b><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">3. When can I schedule to review the PSSA? My school district has offered limited hours which makes it difficult for me to schedule a time to review. </span></b><br /><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><br /></span><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif">From page 9 of the <a href="http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/http;//www.portal.state.pa.us;80/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_148494_1319767_0_0_18/PSSA%20Handbook%20for%20Assessment%20Coordinators.pdf" style="color: #888888; text-decoration-line: none;">2015 PSSA Handbook for Assessment Coordinators</a>:</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span face=""trebuchet ms", sans-serif"><b>Districts must provide a convenient time for the review. This may include an evening review time, if requested.</b></span></blockquote></div></div></div></h4></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-44188854743545868932021-03-04T10:01:00.006-05:002021-03-13T05:12:21.792-05:00Keystone Exams Opt Out 2021<p>Students in the 2019-2020 cohort did not take the 2020 Keystone Exams because there was a federal waiver due to COVID 19. Students in this cohort do not need to take the Keystones, however schools are required per federal law to administer them as they are one of the pathways to fulfill the graduation requirement. The Keystone Exams will be administered in April and May 2021. More information at the bottom of this page.</p><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">How To Opt Out of the Keystone Exams</h3><div class="post-header" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 10.8px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em;"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-87316376783207919" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 570px;"><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Section 4.4 of Title 22, Chapter 4 provides for the rights of parents to excuse their child from the Keystone exams if they find the assessment to be in conflict with their religious beliefs. <b> </b></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: bold;">It is important to note that no religious affiliation or discussion is required to be shared with the school district, simply state that you are opting out based on "religious beliefs".</span><br /><u style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></u><b><u style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STEP 1</u><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">: </span></b><br /><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Parent request in writing to the building principal to review exam within two weeks of exam. </b></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>SAMPLE LETTER:</b></span></blockquote><h4 style="margin: 0px; position: relative;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dear Principal,</span></span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div style="text-align: left;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [NAME], excused from Keystone testing because of religious beliefs.</span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sincerely,</span></blockquote></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Two weeks prior to the testing window, exams must be made available for review.</span><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">School districts must provide a convenient time for the review. </span><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Parents will need sign the '</span><span face="MyriadPro-Bold" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Parent Confidentiality Agreement' that simply states they will not share what is on the test with anyone</span><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><u>STEP 2</u>: </span><br /><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Parent reviews test at school.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><u>STEP 3</u>: </span><br /><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Parent provides written request to be excused from test to the Superintendent. Can be worded same as first letter, stating that that you reviewed the exam.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">SAMPLE LETTER: </span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dear Principal,</span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">On [Date] I had the opportunity to review the Keystone exam and pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [Name] excused from Keystone testing because of religious </span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">beliefs. </span></span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sincerely,</span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><u>STEP 4</u>: </span><br /><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Principal or Superintendent reviews the request - this request cannot be denied.</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 13.2px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span face="MyriadPro-Regular" style="font-weight: normal;">School personnel must provide an alternative learning environment for the student during the assessment and complete the “Non-Assessed Students” grid by selecting “Student had a parental request for exclusion from the assessment.</span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></h4></div><p>From the <a href="https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/COVID-19/Pages/Keystone-Exams.aspx">PDE website</a> (bold emphasis added):</p><p>"<span face="Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #464646; font-size: 16px;">The waiver's coverage of assessment requirements applies to the cohort of 2019-20 test takers who were scheduled to take one or more Keystone Exams in the spring of 2020 (Spring 2019-20 Cohort). <b>Accordingly, the Federal government is not requiring any student enrolled in a Keystone Exam trigger course (Algebra I, Biology, English Literature) during the spring of the 2019-20 school year, regardless of their current grade level or expected graduation date, to take the associated Keystone Exam(s) once schools reopen and federal assessment requirements resume.</b>"</span></p><h4 style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 2.37007rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Spring 2019-20 Cohort: Opt-Out</h4><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.778rem; margin: 0px auto 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Any student enrolled in a Keystone Exam trigger course during the spring of the 2019-20 school year has the right to opt out of the assessment by parental consent, should an LEA schedule a Keystone Exam administration for the entire cohort. <b>Parents wishing to opt their student out of such an administration are not required to follow the procedures set forth in 22 Pa. Code § 4.4(d)(4) (related to religious opt-outs). </b></p><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.778rem; margin: 0px auto 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><b><br /></b></p><h4 style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.333rem; line-height: 2.37007rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Impacts on State Graduation Requirements</h4><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.778rem; margin: 0px auto 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">In accordance with Act 158, statewide graduation requirements take effect with the class of 2022. Act 158 provides five options for meeting graduation requirements: (1) Keystone Proficiency Pathway, (2) Keystone Composite Pathway, (3) Alternate Assessment Pathway, (4) Evidence-Based Pathway, and (5) Career and Technical Education Pathway.</p><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.778rem; margin: 0px auto 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">The first two pathways are based solely on Keystone Exam scores. For that reason, all students, including any student enrolled in a Keystone trigger course during the spring of the 2019-20 school year, must have full access to all five options to meet graduation requirements.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-9238894700802948612020-10-12T11:58:00.000-04:002020-10-12T11:58:07.614-04:002020 Keystone Exams<p>Students in the 2019-2020 cohort did not take the 2020 Keystone Exams because there was a federal waiver due to COVID 19. Students in this cohort do not need to take the Keystones, however schools will be offering them because they are two of the 5 pathways to fulfill the graduation requirement. </p><p>From the <a href="https://www.education.pa.gov/Schools/safeschools/emergencyplanning/COVID-19/Pages/Keystone-Exams.aspx">PDE website</a> (bold emphasis added):</p><p>"<span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The waiver's coverage of assessment requirements applies to the cohort of 2019-20 test takers who were scheduled to take one or more Keystone Exams in the spring of 2020 (Spring 2019-20 Cohort). <b>Accordingly, the Federal government is not requiring any student enrolled in a Keystone Exam trigger course (Algebra I, Biology, English Literature) during the spring of the 2019-20 school year, regardless of their current grade level or expected graduation date, to take the associated Keystone Exam(s) once schools reopen and federal assessment requirements resume.</b>"</span></p><h4 style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 2.37007rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Spring 2019-20 Cohort: Opt-Out</h4><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.778rem; margin: 0px auto 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Any student enrolled in a Keystone Exam trigger course during the spring of the 2019-20 school year has the right to opt out of the assessment by parental consent, should an LEA schedule a Keystone Exam administration for the entire cohort. <b>Parents wishing to opt their student out of such an administration are not required to follow the procedures set forth in 22 Pa. Code § 4.4(d)(4) (related to religious opt-outs). </b></p><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.778rem; margin: 0px auto 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><b><br /></b></p><h4 style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.333rem; line-height: 2.37007rem; margin: 0px 0px 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Impacts on State Graduation Requirements</h4><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.778rem; margin: 0px auto 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">In accordance with Act 158, statewide graduation requirements take effect with the class of 2022. Act 158 provides five options for meeting graduation requirements: (1) Keystone Proficiency Pathway, (2) Keystone Composite Pathway, (3) Alternate Assessment Pathway, (4) Evidence-Based Pathway, and (5) Career and Technical Education Pathway.</p><p style="background-color: #fafafa; box-sizing: inherit; color: #464646; font-family: Montserrat, Gotham, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.778rem; margin: 0px auto 1.333rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">The first two pathways are based solely on Keystone Exam scores. For that reason, all students, including any student enrolled in a Keystone trigger course during the spring of the 2019-20 school year, must have full access to all five options to meet graduation requirements.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-55278398417047912452019-03-17T12:55:00.002-04:002019-03-17T12:55:34.913-04:00Opt Out PSSA 2019<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This post contains information on how to opt out of the PSSA's and FAQ.</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1509965535968890/" style="color: #888888; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 2px; white-space: pre;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Pennsylvania - Opt Out Standardized Testing PA</span></b></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 2px; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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Join this Facebook group if you are interested in connecting with other parents in PA who are considering opting out to share and discuss issues relating to PA opt out.</div>
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How to Opt Out of the PSSA's</h3>
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<u style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 1</b></u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>:</b> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Parent sends letter to the building principal that you plan to opt out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>STEP 2</u>:</b> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Parent reviews test at school. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>STEP 3</u>:</b> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Parent sends another letter stating that you have reviewed the test and are opting out for religious beliefs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Please note that the only reason for opting out is religious beliefs and you do not need to provide any specific details as to what your religious beliefs are, just state "for religious beliefs". Also, letters can be mailed or emailed. I like emails because then you have record that it was sent.</span></div>
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<u style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 1</b></u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>:</b> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Parent sends letter to the building principal that you plan to opt out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Dear Superintendent,</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [NAME], excused from PSSA testing because of religious beliefs.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Sincerely,</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>STEP 2</u>: </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Parent reviews test at school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Two weeks prior to the testing window, exams must be made available for review.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">School districts must provide a convenient time for the review. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Parents will need sign the '</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Parent Confidentiality Agreement' that simply states they will not share what is on the test with anyone</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>STEP 3</u>: </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Parent sends another letter stating that you have reviewed the test and are opting out for religious beliefs. This letter can be handed in at the time you review the PSSA.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">On [Date] I had the opportunity to review the PSSA test and pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [Name] excused from PSSA testing because of religious </span><span style="font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">beliefs. </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Sincerely,</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Superintendent reviews the request and this request cannot be denied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: MyriadPro-Regular; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro-Regular; font-weight: normal;">School personnel must provide an alternative learning environment for the student during the assessment and complete the “Non-Assessed Students” grid by selecting “Student had a parental request for exclusion from the assessment.”</span></div>
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PSSA Opt Out - Frequently Asked Questions</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>1. Do I need to explain my religious beliefs with specific questions from the PSSA test on my opt out letter?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b><u>No. A parent simply states "because of religious beliefs."</u> </b> Once a parent reviews the PSSA, this is all that needs to be included in the letter:</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">On [Date] I had the opportunity to review the PSSA test and pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [Name] excused from PSSA testing because of religious </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">beliefs. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<div class="UFICommentContent" data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0" style="line-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1" style="color: #990000;"><b>Parents must sign a confidentiality agreement. If they state anything specific from the PSSA test, THEY WILL BREACH THE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. <u>Parents cannot, by nature of the confidentiality agreement, write specifically what they oppose for religious reasons on the PSSA test.</u></b></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.6"></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1" style="color: #990000;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">The Pennsylvania Department of Education explains this, see page 4, question 10 at <a href="http://static.pdesas.org/Content/Documents/Ch4%20Guidance%20FAQ%2010-9-14.pdf" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Chapter 4 FAQ</a>.</span><br /><div class="page" title="Page 4">
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<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt;">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 </span><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt;">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.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">This <b><u><i>false</i></u></b> statement, and other similar <b><u><i>false</i></u></b> statements have been given to parents from their school districts:</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">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.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <b>2. My child is opted out of the PSSA testing, what will they do while their classmates are taking the PSSA's?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) </span><a href="http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/http;//www.portal.state.pa.us;80/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_148494_1319767_0_0_18/PSSA%20Handbook%20for%20Assessment%20Coordinators.pdf" style="color: #888888; font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">on page 9 of the PSSA Handbook.</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> :</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">If the student is excused from the assessment due to parental or guardian request, <u><b>school personnel must provide an alternative learning environment for the student </b></u>during the assessment and select “Student had a parental request for exclusion from the assessment."</span></blockquote>
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: small;">3. When can I schedule to review the PSSA? My school district has offered limited hours which makes it difficult for me to schedule a time to review. </span></b><br /><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">From page 9 of the <a href="http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/http;//www.portal.state.pa.us;80/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_148494_1319767_0_0_18/PSSA%20Handbook%20for%20Assessment%20Coordinators.pdf" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">2015 PSSA Handbook for Assessment Coordinators</a>:</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"><b>Districts must provide a convenient time for the review. This may include an evening review time, if requested.</b></span></blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-71660448085688227562018-02-10T10:50:00.000-05:002018-02-10T11:27:22.208-05:00Technology in Education - Digital Classrooms<span style="font-size: x-small;">Guest Blog by Wrench in the Gears</span><br />
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Building Sanctuary: A Dystopian Future We Must Fight To Avoid</h1>
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11pt;"><i><b>The next wave of education reform is one part of a much larger societal shift that hinges
on the use of Big Data, predictive analytics, and digital profiling to control populations in
a world of growing economic uncertainty and unrest. What follows is a speculative
dystopian scenario, a world that could very well emerge from systems being put in place
right now. It centers on two sisters, Cam and Li, who live in a near future New York
where authorities have come to view human life primarily as a source from which to
extract financial profit. Many elements of the story read like science fiction, but they are
not. I’ve included links to sources at the end of each post so you can explore this reality
for yourself.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arialmt"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><i><b>The future is uncertain and unlikely to play out exactly as described. <span style="color: #cc0000;">Nevertheless, we
must begin to comprehend how technological developments combined with
concentrated power and extreme income inequality are leading us to increasingly
automated forms of oppression. </span>My hope is that communities will begin to incorporate an
understanding of this bigger picture into resistance efforts for public education and
beyond. Let us join together, embracing our humanity, to fight the forces that would bring
us to “lockdown.” How can we preserve our lives and those of our loved ones outside the
data stream? How can we nurture community in a world where alienation is becoming
normalized? What do we owe one another? What are we willing to risk? I have divided
my story into seven parts. I hope you’ll read along and consider sharing it with others.</b></i></span><br />
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<a href="https://wrenchinthegears.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/building-sanctuary-pdf.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Click here for the full story: Building Sanctuary</b></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Or read in parts:</span></h1>
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<a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2018/01/03/building-sanctuary-a-dystopian-future-we-must-fight-to-avoid/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Plugging In</span></a></h1>
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<a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2018/01/07/a-world-without-much-work-building-sanctuary-part-2/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">A World Without (Much) Work</span></a></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2018/01/11/smart-and-surveilled-building-sanctuary-part-3/">Smart and Surveilled</a></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2018/01/14/data-mining-life-on-the-ledger/" target="_blank">Data Mining Life on the Ledger</a></span></h1>
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<a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2018/01/19/automated-education-building-sanctuary-part-5/"><span style="font-size: large;">Automated Education</span></a></h2>
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<a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2018/01/27/a-community-of-resistance-building-sanctuary-part-6/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">A Community of Resistance</span></a></h1>
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<a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2018/02/08/choices-part-7-of-building-sanctuary/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Choices</span></a></h1>
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<span style="color: #595959; font-family: "montserrat" , "helvetica neue" , sans-serif;">About the author of Building Sanctuary and popular blog Wrench in the Gears:</span><br />
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<a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/" rel="home" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none;">Wrench in the Gears</a></div>
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A Skeptical Parent's Thoughts on Digital Curriculum</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #595959;"><i>I am writing this blog in tribute to the critically important work on the history of education and its intersections with military research and automation done by brothers David and Douglas Noble. I hope that in some way my words can build upon the strong foundation they have laid.</i></span></blockquote>
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<b>Contact at: awrenchinthegears@gmail.com</b></div>
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<b>Visit blog: </b><span style="color: #686868; font-weight: 400;"> <a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/" target="_blank">Wrench in the Gears</a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Popular and informative blog posts from Wrench in the Gears:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2016/09/23/from-neighborhood-schools-to-learning-eco-systems-a-dangerous-trade/" target="_blank">From Neighborhood Schools to Learning Eco-Systems, A Dangerous Trade</a></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2016/09/15/stop-dont-opt-out-read-this-first/" target="_blank">Stop! Don’t opt out. Read this first.</a></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2016/09/10/digital-curriculum-questions-parents-should-be-asking/" target="_blank">Digital Curriculum: Questions Parents Should be Asking</a></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2016/10/30/personalization-or-profiling-childhood-in-the-ed-tech-era/" target="_blank">Personalization or Profiling? Childhood in the Ed-Tech Era</a></span></h1>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-64090212351648678612017-09-08T20:59:00.001-04:002017-09-08T21:01:12.486-04:00Urgent: Unauthorized Collection and Distribution of PA Student Data <div class="s3" style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-top: 24px;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria";"><b>Thank you to D.O. for this Guest Blog </b></span><br />
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: "cambria"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">Urgent: Unauthorized collection and distribution of PA student data </span><span class="s2" style="font-family: "cambria"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;">fall 2017 and ACTION ITEM at the end</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Unbeknownst to parents across Pennsylvania, </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">many </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">middle and high school students will be administered the intrusive and disturbing PAYS (Pennsylvania Youth Survey) between September 11 and November 22, 2017. </span><br />
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<span class="s4" style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "cambria"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">What is PAYS </span><span class="s4" style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "cambria"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">(Pennsylvania Youth Survey)</span></div>
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The survey questions can be found <a href="http://optoutpa.blogspot.com/2017/09/pennsylvania-youth-survey-pays.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> </div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">This information from PAYS is used to identify changes in behavior and substance abuse, and to identify needs in the community. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The data is also used in grant applications. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">That all sounds noble and good. </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Unfortunately, there are three </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">insidious</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> problems with this survey.</span></div>
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<span class="s9" style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "cambria"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">Government intrusion</span></div>
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The 2017 </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">PAYS</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> is worse than ever. The survey (as usual) asks not just what the student does or thinks, but what parents, siblings, </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">their </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">closest </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">friends, and neighbors do and think and feel, how close the student is with his parents and family members, and whether he goes to church. </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">It effectively asks the student to spy on other people. </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">You can see a copy of the </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">2017 PAYS</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> survey questions </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"><here></span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. </span></div>
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<span class="s9" style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "cambria"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">Trigger warning advised</span></div>
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Some of the questions are so </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">heartless</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> that they should carry a trigger warning. If a student is already struggling, this survey could have devastating consequences. A survey is not a compassionate way to deal with serious crises in a young person’s life. Struggling stude</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">nts need people who care, not a</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">dehumanizing </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">survey </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">tallying their heart break</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">.</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The PAYS</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">is </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">taken anonymously, but the questions are excruciatingly personal in nature. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Also, some of the questions are age inappropriate. Consider that PAYS is asking 6th and 8th grader (age 12-14 years old) questions about drugs, guns, suicide and feelings towards their parents.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Lack of Consent</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The third major issue is that this survey is given without </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">written </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">parental consent</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">, which is required by state law</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">. </span><br />
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<span class="s17" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The law:</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> According to Title 22, Chapter 4, Item 4</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">(d) “School entities shall adopt policies to assure that parents or guardians have the following: (5) The right to have their children excluded from research studies or surveys conducted by entities other than a school entity unless </span><span class="s18" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">prior written consent</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> has been obtained.”</span></blockquote>
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<span class="s19" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">In practice:</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="4.4."></a><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The rights of guardians are being blatantly disregarded as the push for data collection continues. </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Per the law, surveys require a parent</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> to</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> provide written consent.</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">However, t</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">he PDE </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">incorrectly </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">tells school districts to use</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> a passive opt in method, which is to say that </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">everyone is opted in unless the parent chooses to</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> opt out. </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The PDE</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> also fail</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">s</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> to tell districts that districts are responsible for notifying all parents of the upcoming survey and for providing opt out instructions. (</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">One cannot presume a parent has opted in if the parent was not even notified of the survey.</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">)</span></blockquote>
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Most parents across the state only find out about the survey when their children come home and tell them about the upsetting survey they were forced to take</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">, after the damage has already been done. E</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">ven then parents are una</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">ware of their right to opt out of future surveys.</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> As a result, very few parents across the state have had the opportunity to be informed and opt out.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Although t</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">he Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is responsible for statewide administration of the PAYS (Pennsylvania Youth Survey) and </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">provides</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">the </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">procedures to the school </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">districts</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">, the PDE</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> take</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">s no responsibility for </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">disseminating incorrect information</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">.</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"></span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">The PDE has stated that they will not revise their policies and </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">that it’s not their fault if school districts fail to obtain the</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> required written permission, even if they did so under the advice of the PDE. In the PDE’s eyes, the school districts are ultimately accountable for complying with state law, not the PDE.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">This </span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">affects </span><span class="s20" style="font-style: italic; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">all current students</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> in Pennsylvania in 6</span><span class="s21" style="font-size: 7px; line-height: 8.399999618530273px; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">, 8</span><span class="s21" style="font-size: 7px; line-height: 8.399999618530273px; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">, 10</span><span class="s21" style="font-size: 7px; line-height: 8.399999618530273px; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">, and 12</span><span class="s21" style="font-size: 7px; line-height: 8.399999618530273px; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">grades in districts that have opted to participate (given biannually), as well as students in 6</span><span class="s21" style="font-size: 7px; line-height: 8.399999618530273px; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> through 12</span><span class="s21" style="font-size: 7px; line-height: 8.399999618530273px; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> grades in districts that receive certain federal community grants (annually).</span><span style="line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"></span></div>
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<span class="s22" style="background-color: white; color: #4f81bd; font-family: "cambria"; font-weight: bold; line-height: 15.600000381469727px;">Urgent call to action</span></div>
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<span class="s23" style="background-color: white; color: #8db3e2; font-weight: bold; line-height: 28.799999237060547px;">1</span></div>
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">Opt out</span></div>
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">If your child is in 6</span><span class="s25" style="background-color: white; line-height: 8.399999618530273px; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"> through 12</span><span class="s25" style="background-color: white; line-height: 8.399999618530273px; vertical-align: super;">th</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"> grades, </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">opt</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"> them out. You can email your childs</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;"> principal’s and teacher and request that your child is opted out of the PAYS survey. </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">It just takes a minute! </span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">That way you can be sure that your student will not participate in this tragic data grab. </span><br />
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">Share</span></div>
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">Inbox all of your friends who are middle school or high school parents and tell them the can opt out, and share this blog post via social media.</span><br />
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<span class="s23" style="background-color: white; color: #8db3e2; font-weight: bold; line-height: 28.799999237060547px;">3</span></div>
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">Advocate</span></div>
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">Tell <xxx> that the PDE must comply with state education law and obtain written consent before surveying school-aged children.</span><br />
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<span class="s23" style="background-color: white; color: #8db3e2; font-weight: bold; line-height: 28.799999237060547px;">4</span></div>
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">Inform</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 14.399999618530273px;">Forward your email to the superintendent of your school district and add a link to this blog post reminding them that they are responsible for following state law.</span></div>
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<span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;">Keep it</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> simple.</span><span class="s10" style="background-color: white; line-height: 21.600000381469727px;"> If we each take just a few minutes to do this, we will have a huge impact. Together we can make a difference for our children.</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-57020507290921072192017-09-08T20:30:00.001-04:002017-09-08T20:41:41.728-04:00Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) <h1 class="ms-rteElement-H1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: #0a0a0a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.75rem; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility; text-transform: uppercase;">
PENNSYLVANIA YOUTH SURVEY (PAYS)</h1>
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From the <a href="http://www.pccd.pa.gov/Juvenile-Justice/Pages/Pennsylvania-Youth-Survey-(PAYS).aspx" target="_blank">PAYS website</a>:</div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit;">Since 1989, the Commonwealth has conducted a survey of school students in the 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades to learn about their behavior, attitudes and knowledge concerning alcohol, tobacco, other drugs and violence. The ‘Pennsylvania Youth Survey,’ or PAYS, is sponsored and conducted every two years by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.</span></blockquote>
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<u><b>This year PAYS will be administered to participating school sometime between September 11 and November 22, 2017.</b></u> Below are the survey questions. Please review and if you would rather your child was not exposed to these questions, you can opt out by emailing your principal. </div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Email: </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">optoutpatest@gmail.com and request the pdf version if you have a difficult time viewing the survey below.</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-79110800970593518712017-08-14T16:31:00.002-04:002017-08-14T18:47:38.539-04:00Keystone Exam Update and PA ESSA Plan<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Senate Bill 756, the bill co-sponsored by Senator's Dinniman and Eichelberger, to end the use of the Keystone Exams and offer other pathways to graduation (SAT), faced challenges from major education groups due to language added including parental input on teacher evaluations. As a result, the bill was never brought to a vote in the Senate. In the near future, similar separate bills will likely be introduced to eliminate the Keystone exams and an opt out bill that expands the current religious opt out option. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">In the meantime, we have a public comment opportunity with the PA ESSA plan. Over the past 3 years there has been a tremendous increase in the number of students opted out of the state assessments. The increase in opt out is concerning at the State and Federal level. As a result, p</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">art of the ESSA plan includes language that would punish schools that have 5% or more students opt out of PSSA and/or Keystone Exams.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"> The ESSA plan would implement "state-approved improvement plans" for schools with less than 95% participation. As a result, parents and students would be pressured by their school principals and teachers to participate in the PSSA and Keystone exams and opting out would be discouraged.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">From page 43 of the PA ESSA plan:</span><br />
<div class="page" title="Page 52">
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">School-level participation rates will be published within the stat</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">e’s </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.000000pt;">annual public-facing school report
cards. Schools with rates below 95 percent will be required to develop and implement state-approved
improvement plans, and may be required to complete a school- or LEA-level assessment audit. </span></blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is going to be finalized over the next few months. The PDE has posted the draft plan for PA and a public comment section. The comment period closes on August 31. Please consider reviewing the plan and submitting your comments. Each section asks for your input in 1000 words or less. You don't have to comment on each section. At the end of the survey is an opportunity to submit additional comments - please consider submitting personal testimony here if the PSSA and/or Keystone exams has affected your child. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.666666984558105px;">The plan and link to the survey can be viewed <a href="http://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/ESSA/Pages/Review-the-Proposed-Plan.aspx#tab-1" target="_blank">HERE</a></span><br />
<br />
Senator Dinniman thoughts on PA ESSA plan can be read <a href="http://www.senatordinniman.com/dinniman-releases-statement-on-pa-essa-plan" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
<br />
Overview of the survey from the PDE website:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Individuals may choose to comment on as many or as few sections as they wish. The survey asks respondents to provide basic demographic data to inform aggregate analysis of the survey sample; however, all responses will be anonymous. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This online survey provides an opportunity for open-ended comments relating to each major section of the plan, listed below, as well as a way to provide additional, written comments. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
• Introduction<br />
• Section 1: Long Term Goals<br />
• Section 2: Consultation and Performance Management<br />
• Section 3: Academic Assessments<br />
• Section 4: Accountability, Support and Improvement for Schools<br />
• Section 5: Supporting Excellent Educators<br />
• Section 6: Supporting All Students</blockquote>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-54092303059793903242017-06-02T21:59:00.001-04:002017-06-02T22:05:48.975-04:00Parent Testimony on Keystone Exams<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri";"><b>June 2nd Senators Eichelberger and Dinniman Education Committee Hearing </b></span></div>
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<b style="color: #454545; font-family: Calibri;"><u>Elimination of the Keystone Exams and the Use of the Graduation Requirements</u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri";"><b>Parent Panel Participant Testimony </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri";"><b>by Dawn Sweeney</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">My name is Dawn Sweeney and I am a parent to five school aged
children in Owen J. Roberts School District. My oldest is the class of
2017 and my youngest is the class of 2028. I have been actively involved
with Keystone Exam issues for 5 years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">I am also the author of a statewide blog called Opt Out
Pennsylvania, which discuses Keystone exams issues. From mid-April to mid-May
this year there were days that my blog had over 1,000 views. This is
significant considering the demographic is limited to parents of students who
are in 8th, 9th and 10th grade. In four weeks last month there were
18,539 views on: How to Opt Out of the Keystone Exams. This is a clear
indicator that the Keystone exam graduation requirement is adversely affecting
quite a few students and that it’s a significant issue.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Students
who don’t pass a Keystone are placed in remediation in the form of a class or
online curriculum like Key Math or Study Island. These remedial classes are a
general overview of Keystone exam content and do not address a students
specific individual content area needs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the remediation is not individualized because neither
students, or teachers get specific feedback on areas that a student needs
improvement from the Keystone exam score.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">These remedial classes are an unfunded mandate that cost the
school district financially and sometimes results in courses not being offered
due to scheduling because teachers are pulled to cover a remedial class.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">The
people who score the Keystone exams are not required to have any teaching
experience or any background in the tested areas of Algebra, English or
Biology. To be a Keystone exam scorer, proof of a college degree is all
that is required. Scorers are not required to be certified teachers and
do not need to have any education experience. The scorers are paid $11-$14 an
hour which is entry level pay. 35% of the English Keystone and 40% of the
Algebra Keystone are graded by these under qualified scorers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">At
my daughter high school they have 3 levels of classes, Standard, College Prep
and Honors. Yet because of the Keystone exams, students are all preparing for
the same test content which minimizes the distinction of Honors versus College
Prep and Standard classes. <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">My
daughter's class used a Keystone Guide to prepare for the constructed response
portion of the English Keystone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
describes the written portion of the exam where students are to write a
paragraph. On this Keystone Guide, students are told not to use “overly
sophisticated language”, in other words, keep it basic. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not something students are used to hearing
in an Honors English class. More concerning is the way they are told to
write the paragraph for the Keystone exam, specifically to put the thesis
statement as the first sentence, not the at or near the end of the paragraph. Writing
is a cornerstone skill, and the Keystone exams asks that students place a
thesis statement incorrectly in a paragraph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suspect the reason for this is for ease of scoring as the
scorers can be instructed to look at the first sentence as the thesis
statement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">I want to emphasize that is not the fault of teachers, rather
it's the Keystone mandate that forces teacher to teach to the test, even when
it goes against their professional training and proper writing techniques.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri";">College admissions do not consider
the Keystone exams in any capacity. </span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Yet, they are given at the same time
students are preparing for SAT/ACT and need to maintain a good GPA – which are
all things that colleges do consider for admissions. The Keystone exams take
valuable educational time away from students during critical high school years.
That the PDE considers putting Keystone exam scores on transcripts demonstrates
their lack of understanding that the Keystone exams are not a component of the
college admissions process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">In
closing, I would like to tell you about two local students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace is a sophomore at West Chester
East High School. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has taken
the Biology and Algebra Keystone twice and failed to meet the passing
benchmark. She participated in the recommended remediation, including in school
and after school support. Grace's combined grade on her second Biology attempt
was lower than the first. Algebra performance was better on second trial,
falling 6 points short of passing.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">She currently has the literature test looming. Grace has a
diagnosis of a reading disability. Her prognosis for passing a language arts
based measure is questionable. She meets the criterion for a 504 plan but not
an IEP thus requiring her to meet all the graduation standards of the regular
education curriculum.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">She
is left with the option of opting out. However, each test opt out would require
15-20 hours to complete a project based assessment; consider tripling that if
she fails all three Keystones. Project based assessments would take the place
of electives in Grace's schedule. Most would agree that electives are essential
to a well-rounded education. To complicate matters further, it is questionable
if Grace would acquire the number of credits required for graduation if one
accounted for lost electives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Shane
is currently a sophmore at Norristown Area High School. He failed the
Algebra Keystone freshman year by a slight margin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had Keystone Remediation class for a
semester during his sophmore year knocking out his chance of having JROTC, a
class he loved and performed well in his freshman year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
Shane attended Central Montgomery County VoTechnical School for Networking
Technology. He has a 95 average in this course and 2 certifications that he can
use in real life work. He will have 3 dual enrollment credits to
Montgomery County Community College in this field of study. He has
excelled and feels very confident, plus has a career path! However, Shane
has been threatened that if he fails any of the Keystones that he may not be
able to attend Tech school next year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Grace
and Shane represent many other students who are in similar situations due to
the Keystone graduation requirement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These students are on the brink of their junior year and wonder if they
will get the chance to graduate if they pass all subjects. I think that
question needs to be extensively and exhaustively considered by the legislature.
The ramifications could be tremendous for Grace and Shane, and thousands of Pennsylvania
students statewide who pass all of their high school classes and requirements
but have their 12 years of schooling reduced to the dubious results of a single
test.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-font-size: 17.0pt;">Thank you for considering the issues presented today. I
urge you to do whatever you can to eliminate the Keystone graduation
requirement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-85614652289472729812017-05-02T17:44:00.001-04:002017-05-02T17:48:54.436-04:00Keystone Exams Class 2017 and 2018<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">From the Keystone <span style="font-family: "trajanpro";">Handbook For Assessment Coordinators <a href="http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/Keystone%20Exams/Administration%20Materials/Keystone%20Handbook%20for%20Assessment%20Coordinators.pdf">HERE</a> on page 8 (emphasis added):</span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b><u><span style="color: red;">The current regulation requires that beginning with the class of 2019,</span></u></b> students must demonstrate proficiency on the
Algebra I, Biology, and Literature Keystone Exams in order to graduate. Therefore, any student in grade 10 or below
during the 2016-17 school year is required to demonstrate proficiency on the Keystone Exams in order to graduate. </span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "myriadpro";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This affirms that students in the class of 2017 and 2018 are not required </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">to </span></span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro";"><span style="font-size: 15px;">demonstrate</span></span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro";"><span style="font-size: 15px;"> proficiency on the Keystone Exams. Also from page 8 of the Handbook:</span></span></span></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11pt;">Because the Keystone Exams for Algebra I, Biology, and Literature replaced the grade 11 Pennsylvania System of
School Assessment (PSSA) in mathematics, reading, and science for the purpose of satisfying federal accountability
requirements, all students </span><span style="font-weight: 700;">must </span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11pt;">participate in the Algebra I, Biology, and Literature Keystone Exams </span><span style="font-weight: 700;">by spring
of their grade 11 year</span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11pt;">. </span></span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11pt;">The </span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 15px;">federal</span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">accountability</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> requirements states that testing is to be </span></span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 15px;">administered</span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11pt;"> in grades 3-8 and once in 11th grade. The federal </span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 15px;">requirement</span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11pt;"> DOES NOT mandate that students take the test.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11pt;">On page 11 of the Handbook:</span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11pt;"><b>d. </b> </span><span style="font-weight: 700;">Student had a parental exclusion based on other reasons: </span><span style="font-weight: 700;">If a parent refuses to have his/her student
participate in the assessment but does not provide a reason in accordance with Chapter 4 rules, school
personnel must select “Student had a parental exclusion based on other reasons.” Students who do not
participate in the assessment due to parental request will negatively affect the school’s participation rate
and can potentially have a negative impact on the school’s accountability status.</span></span></blockquote>
<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11pt;">Parents are not </span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11pt;">required</span><span style="font-family: "myriadpro"; font-size: 11pt;"> to review the Keystone exams per the above statement which is also found on the first page of the Keystone Exam testing booklet.</span></span></b><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-42157473135676777732017-04-24T18:28:00.002-04:002017-04-24T18:32:14.415-04:00Opt Out Keystone Exams 2.0 - Letter <span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">Senate Bill 880 is legislation that nullified the state Keystone Exam graduation requirement until the class of 2019 and beyond. Many students across Pennsylvania have taken these exams multiple times, been placed in remedial classes and/or made to take an alternative project with a </span>minimun score requirement to graduate. As many as 60% of students are not passing the Keystone exams while passing the Algebra 1, Biology and English classes. The below sample letter and information is provided for those wish to opt out.<br />
<br />
Students who are up against taking the Keystone Exams this May can opt out with no recourse according to the SB 880 legislation. The request must be in writing and can be sent via email or regular mail. I suggest email so that there is a record. Preferably you would get a response via email for your records. However, many school administrators will make a phone call instead so there is no record of what they've said. If that is the case, take notes, write an email stating "Thank you for speaking with me on [DATE] regarding the Keystone Exams where you stated "... " . Provide details of the phone conversation for your records and email it back to them. <br />
_______________________________________________________________________<br />
<br />
SAMPLE LETTER:<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Dear Superintendent,</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [NAME], excused from Keystone testing. Senate Bill 880, which was signed into legislation by Govenor Wolf on February 3, 2016, states that the use of the Keystone exams shall be delayed until the 2018-2019 school year. For your reference the wording of SB 880 (emphasis added):</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">(1) <span style="color: red;">Notwithstanding</span> section 2604-B(b)(2)(v), </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">22 Pa. Code § 4.24 (relating to high school graduation requirements), 4.51 (relating to State assessment system) or 4.51c (relating to project-based assessment) <span style="color: red;">or any statute or regulation to the contrary</span>,<span style="color: red;"> the use of the Keystone Exams</span> as a graduation requirement or as a benchmark for the need for participation in a project-based assessment <span style="color: red;">shall be delayed until the 2018-2019 school year.</span></span></b></blockquote>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">For clarification purposes </span><span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="color: red;">"</span><span style="color: red;">Notwithstanding ... or any statute or regulation</span><span style="color: red;"> to the contrary"</span><span style="color: #1d2129;"> is a legal statement that covers <u>any and all</u> other state or local regulations and </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">mandates. That means this statement nullifies PA School Codes: </span><span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">4.24 (relating to high school graduation requirements), 4.51 (relating to State assessment system) or 4.51c (relating to project-based assessment). This also means that a local requirement to pass the Keystone Exams or Project, or Alternative/Remedial class is NULLIFIED for the two years that Act 1 is in effect, until 2019 and beyond.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">For further clarification purposes, "</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">... </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">the use of the Keystone Exams</span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"> as a graduation requirement or as a benchmark for the need for participation in a project-based assessment </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">shall be delayed until the 2018-2019 school year.</span></b></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><br /></span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Legal language is clear here "shall be delayed" until the 2018-2019 school year. SB 880 can be found <a href="http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2016&sessInd=0&act=1">HERE</a>. </span></b><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Thank you for your attention in this matter. If you need to contact me, please do so via email at this address.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Sincerely,</b></span></span><span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>__________________________________________________________________________</b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>ISSUES</b></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">Parents, by now we all can recognize that the PDE and school administrators DO NOT have the best interest of students in Pennsylvania. This is clearly evident at the high rates of students who are not passing and are re-testing multiple times, placed in remedial classes and placed in "project" based classes where a student uses a computer to take assessments on programs like Study Island until they score a minimum (usually 70%). Most of these students have already passed the class and are still re-testing a year or two later. <b><u>As many as 60% of students are not passing the Keystone exams annually</u>. </b> Think about that for a moment - there are more students not passing than students that are passing! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">What might happen if you opt out? Your child might be threatened with not graduating, they might be told they are mandated to take a remedial type project like Study Island or nothing. However, the legislation supports opting out with no repercussions. If necessary, demand in writing reasons why they require and alternate pathway to the Keystone graduation requirement. I will personally take each to Senator Dinniman for a potential class action law suit against the PDE.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">The only action we as parents can take is to opt out - its the only action that has a consequence and that school administrators must respond to. Discussions with school administrators will not have any impact aside from a condescending smile and 'thanks for your input, our hands are tied". If we don't take action, these insidious testing mandates won't change. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times", "times new roman", serif;">Join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1509965535968890/">Pennsylvania - Opt Out Standardized Testing PA</a> for support!</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-12271214500588849492017-04-20T12:34:00.002-04:002017-04-20T12:52:31.759-04:00Keystone Update April 2017<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the April 7th meeting with Senator Dinniman we discussed the Keystone Exams. Below is a summary of that meeting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><b>Keystone Exams</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;">SB 880, which is now Act 1 in Chapter 4, made it illegal to administer the Keystone Exams for two years, to any student. <b><u>The PDE made it their own legal interpretation</u></b> that school districts could administer them, make them a grad requirement and bank </span><span style="color: #1d2129;">scores for students in 2019 and beyond. The intent and the legal language of SB880/Act 1 is to delay the administration of the Keystone Exams and the graduation requirement. See legal language below (red highlight emphasis is mine):</span></span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-weight: bold; text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(1) <span style="color: red;">Notwithstanding</span> section 2604-B(b)(2)(v), 22 Pa. Code § 4.24 (relating to high school graduation requirements), 4.51 (relating to State assessment system) or 4.51c (relating to project-based assessment) <span style="color: red;">or any statute or regulation to the contrary</span>, the use of the Keystone Exams as a graduation requirement or as a benchmark for the need for participation in a project-based assessment shall be delayed until the 2018-2019 school year.</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">"</span></b><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Notwithstanding ... or any statute or regulation</span><span style="color: red;"><b> to the contrary"</b></span><span style="color: #1d2129;"> is a legal statement that covers <b><u>any and all</u></b> other state or local regulations and </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">mandates. That means this statement nullifies PA School Codes: </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">4.24 (relating to high school graduation requirements), 4.51 (relating to State assessment system) or 4.51c (relating to project-based assessment). This also means that a local requirement to pass the Keystone Exams or Project, or Alternative/Remedial call is NULLIFIED for the two years that Act 1 is in effect, until 2019 and beyond.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-indent: 29.13599967956543px;"><b>Key Point:</b> Keystone exam scores, per Act 1, are not allowed to be banked for these two years! This would generally affect students taking the Algebra 1 Keystone in 7th, 8th or 9th grade (any student who takes the Algebra 1 Keystone in 2017 or 2018). </span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">See legal language below (red highlight emphasis is mine):</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">... <span style="color: red;">the use of the Keystone Exams</span> as a graduation requirement or as a benchmark for the need for participation in a project-based assessment <span style="color: red;">shall be delayed until the 2018-2019 school year.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">... </span><span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>the use of the Keystone Exams ... shall be delayed until the 2018-2019 school year.</b></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Legal language is clear here SHALL BE DELAYED!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>SB880/Act 1 can be read in full <a href="http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/li/uconsCheck.cfm?yr=2016&sessInd=0&act=1">HERE</a> and was approved February 3, 2016.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">A class action lawsuit against the PDE is already written to be filed. No further information on this right now.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><b>SAT Bill </b></span></span></span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">would replace Keystone Exam graduation requirement and </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">fulfill the federal testing requirement in 11th grade</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Senator Dinniman is sponsoring a bill to have the SAT as an option to fulfill the federal testing requirement in 11th grade. He clarified, and these two points are important, that his SAT bill will include language that </span><b><u><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">it can be opted out of and </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">there will not be a minimum score required to gr</span></u></b><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>aduate</u></b>. The two-fold benefit is that it would eliminate the administration of the Keystone Exam and the grad requirement and fulfill the federal testing requirement. While I am personally opposed to the SAT, this option would eliminate the KE as a grad requirement. Also, students in low income schools would have an opportunity to take them where they otherwise couldn't afford to. My biggest concern is the intrusive data mining attached to this test, which is optional, just would need to inform parents and students.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">What can parents of students in the class of 2017, 2018 who are up against taking the Keystone Exams this May?</span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Opt Out of the Keystone Exam this May 2017. </b> Especially students who have already taken the exam multiple times. We are at a point in this that we know:</span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The PDE <b>does not </b>have the best interest of the students, they support the corporate privatization of public schools, and they are politically corrupt.</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">School Administrators, Superintendents and Principals will not actively support students, they will support the mandates put forth by the corrupt PDE. (Don't be fooled by their smiles and patronizing "I agree with you but my hands are tied" sentiments.)</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Teachers overwhelmingly do oppose the Keystone graduation requirement and support students, however their jobs are threatened if they speak out on this.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Parents, the only way that this will change is to opt out. If students don't opt out, there is no consequence or action for the school districts to do. If students opt out, in writing, then the school district must respond and take action. Change will only happen if schools are in a position to take action, opting out is the only thing that will force a consequence or action. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Think about that for moment, adults in the form of school administrators and the folks at the PDE, who are responsible for thousands of students education and preparing them for the future are sabotaging their lives. Adults versus our children. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: red; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Keystone Exam testing window is May 15-25. In the next week I'll post a sample letter, with legal language and process to opt out and of to handle different school district responses.</b></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Consider watching </span>these short and very informative<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><a href="http://optoutpa.blogspot.com/2017/04/opt-out-of-opt-out-20.html" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">videos</a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> about the future of Public Education, where students will be on one-on-devices that will allow constant data mining in a corporate and privatized setting that will make public school as we know it obsolete. </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-73720892588020395262017-04-03T22:07:00.002-04:002017-04-03T22:23:22.847-04:00Opt Out of Opt Out 2.0<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545;">The changes coming to education as a result of federal and state level educational policies, ESSA (and even the opt out movement) turns out to be worse than the standardized testing and all its related issues. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #454545;">We are at a pivotal turning point in education history. The transformation of public education has been gradually occurring for decades. We are at the end days of education as we have always known it, and we don't even know it ...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There's MORE to opting out than the end of the year test. Click <a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2016/09/15/stop-dont-opt-out-read-this-first/" target="_blank">here</a> to find out what you should be doing next.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you have 4 minutes, click <a href="https://youtu.be/N54qNTeBOek" target="_blank">here</a> to learn about the REAL end game.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you have 10 minutes, click <a href="https://youtu.be/yB0CwcvUszo" target="_blank">here</a> find out how the Defense Department jumpstarted the e-learning industry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you have an hour, click <a href="https://youtu.be/IvqBJYmpQrY" target="_blank">here</a> to learn about a future without schools or human teachers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Review slides for Alison's March 25 talk at the Lake City Public Library in Seattle <a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1BMsfE0E6cC2iSFakQZDG0xTGWUbv6k2Z3OrvJrgbrDk/mobilepresent?slide=id.g138a612b66_1_1234" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For more on ed-tech in public schools follow <a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/" target="_blank">Wrench in the Gears</a>.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-13619629783757586122017-03-27T16:13:00.000-04:002017-03-27T16:13:19.576-04:00PSSA Opt Out for Other Reasons *New*There is a new reason listed on the PSSA testing booklet and PSSA Handbook for Assessment Coordinators listed for opting out of the PSSA assessment. See below:<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/PSSA/PSSA%20Handbook%20for%20Assessment%20Coordinators.pdf">PSSA Handbook for Assessment Coordinators</a> (click and go to page 11)<br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Student had a parental exclusion based on other reasons: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">If a parent refuses to have his/her student
participate in the assessment but does not provide a reason in accordance with Chapter 4 rules, school personnel
must select “Student had a parental exclusion based on other reasons.” Students who do not participate in the
assessment due to parental request will negatively affect the school’s participation rate and can potentially have
a negative impact on the school’s accountability status. </span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-5595770501028394022017-03-02T14:06:00.002-05:002017-03-02T14:06:47.722-05:00PSSA Opt Out - FAQ<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>1. Do I need to explain my religious beliefs with specific questions from the PSSA test on my opt out letter?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>No. A parent simply states "because of religious beliefs."</u> </b> Once a parent reviews the PSSA, this is all that needs to be included in the letter:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">On [Date] I had the opportunity to review the PSSA test and pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [Name] excused from PSSA testing because of religious </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">beliefs. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<div class="UFICommentContent" data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0" style="line-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1" style="color: #990000;"><b>Parents must sign a confidentiality agreement. If they state anything specific from the PSSA test, THEY WILL BREACH THE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. <u>Parents cannot, by nature of the confidentiality agreement, write specifically what they oppose for religious reasons on the PSSA test.</u></b></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.6"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1" style="color: #990000;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Pennsylvania Department of Education explains this, see page 4, question 10 at <a href="http://static.pdesas.org/Content/Documents/Ch4%20Guidance%20FAQ%2010-9-14.pdf" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;">Chapter 4 FAQ</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">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 </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">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.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This <b><u><i>false</i></u></b> statement, and other similar <b><u><i>false</i></u></b> statements have been given to parents from their school districts:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">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.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> <b>2. My child is opted out of the PSSA testing, what will they do while their classmates are taking the PSSA's?</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) </span><a href="http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/http;//www.portal.state.pa.us;80/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_148494_1319767_0_0_18/PSSA%20Handbook%20for%20Assessment%20Coordinators.pdf" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">on page 9 of the PSSA Handbook.</a><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> :</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: #222222; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If the student is excused from the assessment due to parental or guardian request, <u><b>school personnel must provide an alternative learning environment for the student </b></u>during the assessment and select “Student had a parental request for exclusion from the assessment."</span></blockquote>
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. When can I schedule to review the PSSA? My school district has offered limited hours which makes it difficult for me to schedule a time to review. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From page 9 of the <a href="http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/http;//www.portal.state.pa.us;80/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_148494_1319767_0_0_18/PSSA%20Handbook%20for%20Assessment%20Coordinators.pdf">2015 PSSA Handbook for Assessment Coordinators</a>:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Districts must provide a convenient time for the review. This may include an evening review time, if requested.</b></span></blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-45993198257337606572017-03-01T07:56:00.004-05:002017-03-01T07:56:47.411-05:00PSSA Opt Out 2017<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This post contains information on how to opt out of the PSSA's and FAQ.</span><br />
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<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1509965535968890/" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 2px; white-space: pre;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Pennsylvania - Opt Out Standardized Testing PA</span></b></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-indent: 2px; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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Join this Facebook group if you are interested in connecting with other parents in PA who are considering opting out to share and discuss issues relating to PA opt out.</div>
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How to Opt Out of the PSSA's</h3>
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<u style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 1</b></u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>:</b> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Parent sends letter to the building principal that you plan to opt out.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>STEP 2</u>:</b> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Parent reviews test at school. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>STEP 3</u>:</b> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Parent sends another letter stating that you have reviewed the test and are opting out for religious beliefs.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please note that the only reason for opting out is religious beliefs and you do not need to provide any specific details as to what your religious beliefs are, just state "for religious beliefs". Also, letters can be mailed or emailed. I like emails because then you have record that it was sent.</span></div>
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<u style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>STEP 1</b></u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>:</b> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Parent sends letter to the building principal that you plan to opt out.</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, tahoma, helvetica, freesans, sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>SAMPLE LETTER:</b></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dear Superintendent,</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [NAME], excused from PSSA testing because of religious beliefs.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sincerely,</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>STEP 2</u>: </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Parent reviews test at school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Two weeks prior to the testing window, exams must be made available for review.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">School districts must provide a convenient time for the review. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Parents will need sign the '</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Parent Confidentiality Agreement' that simply states they will not share what is on the test with anyone</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>STEP 3</u>: </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">Parent sends another letter stating that you have reviewed the test and are opting out for religious beliefs. This letter can be handed in at the time you review the PSSA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">SAMPLE LETTER: </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dear Superintendent,</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On [Date] I had the opportunity to review the PSSA test and pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [Name] excused from PSSA testing because of religious </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">beliefs. </span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sincerely,</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Superintendent reviews the request and this request cannot be denied.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: MyriadPro-Regular; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: MyriadPro-Regular; font-weight: normal;">School personnel must provide an alternative learning environment for the student during the assessment and complete the “Non-Assessed Students” grid by selecting “Student had a parental request for exclusion from the assessment.”</span></div>
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PSSA Opt Out - Frequently Asked Questions</h3>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><b>1. Do I need to explain my religious beliefs with specific questions from the PSSA test on my opt out letter?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>No. A parent simply states "because of religious beliefs."</u> </b> Once a parent reviews the PSSA, this is all that needs to be included in the letter:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">On [Date] I had the opportunity to review the PSSA test and pursuant to Pennsylvania Code Title 22 Chapter 4, section 4.4 (d)(4) I am hereby exercising my right as a parent to have my child, [Name] excused from PSSA testing because of religious </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">beliefs. </span><span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<div class="UFICommentContent" data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0" style="line-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1" style="color: #990000;"><b>Parents must sign a confidentiality agreement. If they state anything specific from the PSSA test, THEY WILL BREACH THE CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT. <u>Parents cannot, by nature of the confidentiality agreement, write specifically what they oppose for religious reasons on the PSSA test.</u></b></span><span style="color: #141823;"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.6"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span data-reactid=".6f.1:3:1:$comment851791481548566_851959584865089:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1" style="color: #990000;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The Pennsylvania Department of Education explains this, see page 4, question 10 at <a href="http://static.pdesas.org/Content/Documents/Ch4%20Guidance%20FAQ%2010-9-14.pdf" style="color: #990000; font-weight: bold;">Chapter 4 FAQ</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">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 </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;">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.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This <b><u><i>false</i></u></b> statement, and other similar <b><u><i>false</i></u></b> statements have been given to parents from their school districts:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">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.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> <b>2. My child is opted out of the PSSA testing, what will they do while their classmates are taking the PSSA's?</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) </span><a href="http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/http;//www.portal.state.pa.us;80/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_148494_1319767_0_0_18/PSSA%20Handbook%20for%20Assessment%20Coordinators.pdf" style="color: #888888; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">on page 9 of the PSSA Handbook.</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> :</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If the student is excused from the assessment due to parental or guardian request, <u><b>school personnel must provide an alternative learning environment for the student </b></u>during the assessment and select “Student had a parental request for exclusion from the assessment."</span></blockquote>
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">3. When can I schedule to review the PSSA? My school district has offered limited hours which makes it difficult for me to schedule a time to review. </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From page 9 of the <a href="http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/http;//www.portal.state.pa.us;80/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_148494_1319767_0_0_18/PSSA%20Handbook%20for%20Assessment%20Coordinators.pdf" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">2015 PSSA Handbook for Assessment Coordinators</a>:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Districts must provide a convenient time for the review. This may include an evening review time, if requested.</b></span></blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-60921389062021387822016-09-17T16:24:00.001-04:002016-09-17T16:32:39.854-04:00NEW Keystone Exams for Students in 2017 or 2018Thanks to Senator Dinniman, we have recourse for students in the class of 2017 and 2018 who are being placed in remedial classes, PBA, and/or 'required' to re-take the Keystone Exam(s). Senator Dinniman had a Town Hall meeting on September 12, 2016 and explained his plan to file amicus briefs on behalf of parents to file a lawsuit against the PDE. During that meeting it was explained:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="line-height: normal;"> A</span>n <i>amicus brief </i>would be filed by a legislator such as Senator Dinniman (<i>who is not specifically affected by the action</i>) on behalf of students/families that <i>are </i>directly impacted by the issue at hand. Possible examples of those who are directly impacted by the Keystone graduation requirement are: </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
1. A student who has been prevented from receiving a high school diploma in 2016 as a result of not testing Proficient on one or more Keystones; </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
2. A student who is being forced to take the Keystones repeatedly over the next several years (which could result in injurious consequences -- perhaps psychologically -- such as affecting the student’s mental health); </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
3. A student who, as a result of not having passed a Keystone, is being placed in remedial courses and/or is required to take a type of Project Based Assessment (<i>whether or not it is called by that name</i>). Inordinate amounts of time spent on remediation could prevent the student from reaching his full educational potential in that it could preclude him from taking courses that would be more related to his individual educational pursuits and/or vocational goals. </blockquote>
<b><u>The first step</u>: </b>parents request in writing (email is best) to their principal and superintendent that their child will not take the Keystone exams and/or is to be removed from from the PBA, and any remedial Keystone class. The next step would be to contact Senator Dinniman for an amicus brief. Below is a sample letter.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Dear Superintendent and Principal,</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Pleased be advised that pursuant
to Act 1, (student name) will not take the Keystone exam and is to be
immediately removed from the PBA and/or remedial class that (student name) was
placed in that requires proficiency due to not passing the Keystone exam. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">If this request is denied please
provide in writing a statement explaining the reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If (student name) is not removed from the PBA/or remedial
class, then I will be submitting an amicus brief to Senator Andy Dinniman for
the purpose of a lawsuit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Default">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">For your reference, Act 1 says:</span><span style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">(1)<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Times;">Notwithstanding section 2604-B(b)(2)(v), 22 Pa. Code § 4.24 (relating to
high school graduation requirements), 4.51 (relating to State assessment
system) or 4.51c (relating to project-based assessment) or any statute or regulation
to the contrary, the use of the Keystone Exams as a graduation requirement or
as a benchmark for the need for participation in a project-based assessment
shall be delayed until the 2018-2019 school year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">I look forward to your confirmation that (student name) has
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exams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-15600142896495131552016-09-15T11:09:00.005-04:002016-09-16T07:50:16.110-04:00Opt Out of Opt Out<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;"><b>Personalized Learning: A Threat to Education</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Over the past three years I have opted out. I've helped hundreds of parents and encouraged thousands more to opt their kids out of standardized tests too. Each year our opt out "movement" has grown exponentially. We were well connected, well informed and ready to battle against all things related to standardized testing. We appeared to be well on our way to being a part of a change to the testing climate in schools across the country.<br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">The changes coming to education as a result of federal and state level educational policies and the opt out movement turns out to be worse than the testing and ALL the related issues surrounding standardized tests. <br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">We are at a pivotal turning point in history. There has been a transformation in education that has been slowly and quietly creeping in for decades and we are at the end days of education as we all know it, and we don't even know it.<br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Parents have </span><span style="font-size: 23px;">increasingly</span><span style="font-size: 17pt;"> opted out because:</span></span></span><br />
<ul><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";">
<li style="color: #454545; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Students are over tested</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Students should have a broader curriculum that includes Arts and Humanities</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Students are unique individuals not standardized.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Students learn in different ways at a different pace.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Students are more than a test score.</span></li>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Ed-tech corporations feel the same way. Students should take less tests and be assessed as individuals who should be able to learn at their own pace because they are more than a test score! <br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">What does that really mean? Here is where the pivotal turning point in history happens. It's called Competency Based Education (CBE) or Mass Customized Learning (MCL). Essentially, under the guise of 'personalized learning' it's education done with technology (computer devices) rather than humans (teachers) on a large scale level, like worldwide. </span></span></span></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">We have it already, every state does. In Pennsylvania where I reside, our schools use Study Island, CDT's and other similar online programs as well as hybrid courses. Hybrid courses are where students are in a classroom with a teacher for 1-2 days and the rest of the coursework is done online, usually during a study hall or at home. As the transition to more technology-based educational programs is occurring, critical and damaging changes are happening to the student-teacher and student-peer relationships. <br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">High quality certified teachers will be deemed unnecessary in a classroom with increasing class sizes, replaced by facilitators who just need to monitor that students are on task on their devices. Think about that for a moment. Teachers who have 6-8 years of college education, and years of teacher experience in classrooms with student interaction will be obsolete, replaced by low-pay, inexperienced, untrained facilitators. Then add the harmful impact of children being on a device for many hours a day to the physical, mental and emotional health of students - things are moving in the wrong direction, fast!!<br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Opt out has created the awareness that students are being tested too much and that the big test in the spring is complicated, unreliable and expensive. With that opt out has given parents a way to protect their children from the testing and data mining. <b>However, the opt out movement has fed directly into the Ed-tech politically and financially driven corporate reforms, perfectly. </b>The problem was created with the poorly written tests, scores that don't come back in a timely or useful manner and lack of transparency of the actual tests. Then backlash came from parents who opted out. The problem was created, festered for a few years, and now big changes are imminent. Over the next year, with the transition to ESSA into each state the educational environment with continue to change, this time it's going to be drastic. <br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">There won't be a big test in the spring to opt out of, assessments will be embedded into the curriculum via 'stealth' assessments because students, teachers and parents won't know when a student is being assessed. Nor will they know what content is being used with each student - an online, adaptive curriculum that will be disconnected from teachers and parents. Online programs created by corporations who have little to no background or training in education, subject content areas or what is developmentally appropriate for children at each grade level. Data-mining will be massive with the capacity to track students at every key stroke. <br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Soon, parents will not be able to opt out. That is intentional thanks to our federal and state legislators and the Ed-tech corporations who create and make billions of dollars off the backs of students. <br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">The time to take action is now. Some things parents can do are:<br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<ul><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";">
<li style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Decline or refuse Google Apps for Education (GAFE)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Decline a google email account for your student</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Request a group or anonymous ID for login</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545; font-size: 17pt;">Request paper/pencil </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Write to your local and state </span><span style="font-size: 23px;">legislators</span></span></li>
</span></ul>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";">
<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">For more helpful information:</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #595959; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #595959; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: large;">wrenchinthegears writes: <a href="https://wrenchinthegears.com/2016/09/15/stop-dont-opt-out-read-this-first/">Stop! Don't opt out. Read this first.</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #595959; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #595959; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px;">Opt out families are being set up as pawns in this fake “assessment reform” movement. I began to realize this a year ago when our dysfunctional, Broad Superintendent-led school district was suddenly almost eager to help us inform parents of their rights to opt out. It wasn’t until the ESSA passed, and I started learning more about competency-based education, out-of-school time learning, and workforce badging that the bigger picture came into focus.</span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
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<span style="color: maroon; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Peggy Robertson, Busted Pencils: </span><a href="http://bustedpencils.com/2016/09/opt-out-is-dead/" style="box-shadow: 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: maroon; font-family: merriweather, georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Opt Out is Dead</a><br />
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
“The key is refusing the online testing and curriculum IN MASS. One person trying to do this alone has a hard road and a slim chance of succeeding – ultimately this online curriculum will be tied to grades (and already is in many cities), therefore making it more challenging to refuse. Parents and citizens, in mass, who speak to the school board, who publicize their desire to refuse this online curriculum, can win. Expose it. Gather support. And REFUSE IT. Demand authentic learning by authentic teachers in democratic classroom settings.”</div>
<div>
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: maroon; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px;">Cheri Kiesecker, Missouri Education Watchdog: <a href="http://missourieducationwatchdog.com/abcs-of-classrooms-at-risk-dont-just-optout/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: maroon; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ABCs of Classrooms at Risk: Don’t Just Opt Out</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #595959; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px;">“Ask your school what online vendors (like Knewton) they use. </span><a href="http://missourieducationwatchdog.com/a-back-to-school-checklist-opt-out-and-data-privacy/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #cf1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">Ask to see data contracts, the data collected and shared</a><span style="color: #595959; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px;">. Ask why your child is exposed to more and more screen time, and </span><a href="http://ehtrust.org/key-issues/cell-phoneswireless/wifi-in-schools/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #cf1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">industrial strength Wi-Fi at school</a><span style="color: #595959; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px;">. Ask to have the radiation levels measured, and ask to follow these </span><a href="http://www.stopsmartmetersbc.com/first-us-public-school-district-limits-wi-fi-radiation-exposure-to-students-and-staff/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #cf1a1a; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;">best practices when using Wi-Fi</a><span style="color: #595959; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px;">. Ask to have amount of screen time documented and limited to pediatrician recommended limits. Remember your child’s classroom, your child, is being subjected to much more than just one end of the year test. When you think Opt Out, think big. Think more. Think Protect the Child….all year.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #eee9e1; color: #595959; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: maroon;">Kevin Ohlandt, Exceptional Delaware: <a href="https://exceptionaldelaware.wordpress.com/2016/09/15/opt-out-as-we-know-it-is-dead-long-live-the-badge/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: maroon; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Opt Out as we know it is dead. Long live the badge.</a></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
If you are with me and agree, join me. Join those of us, across the country, who believe children should not be guinea pigs for futurists and their money-making agendas. Talk to your legislators. Find out what upcoming legislation would allow this future, whether it is Blockchain technology or something else. Look for “Pay for Success” legislation which has corporations hedge bets based on student outcomes, otherwise known as Social Impact Bonds. Tell them to fight this and advocate for the restoration of FERPA to pre-2011 levels. Speak out and share information with other parents and friends. Opt Out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment is dead. It is now time to opt out of anything which will bring this future to pass and will cause more harm to your children than anything before.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
<span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: maroon;">Emily Talmage, Saving Maine’s Schools:<a href="https://emilytalmage.com/2016/09/15/parents-time-to-step-up-our-game/" style="box-shadow: currentcolor 0px 1px 0px 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: maroon; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> Parents: Time to Step Up Our Game</a></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
“It’s time for us to dial up the original Opt Out spirit – the one that wasn’t afraid to say <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">hell no</em> – and realize that we’re going to need to extend this fight <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">way</em> beyond the big end-of-year-test.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
Data-mining. Key-stroke tracking. Collection of sensitive personal information that ends up in the hands of advertisers. Digital badging. Unhealthy amounts of screen time. Growing class sizes. Depleted school budgets.</div>
<div style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #595959; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1.75em;">
If I sound alarmist, it’s because I’m a mom and a teacher, so we’re talking about <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">my kids</em> here. I <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">am</em> seriously alarmed.”</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-25704495838301169372016-09-02T16:51:00.003-04:002016-09-02T17:07:23.775-04:00Senator Dinniman - Keystone Exam Issues/Parental Input Request<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large;">Please read the below email from Senator Dinniman and his request from parents or organizations who might want to take the PDE to court and </span><span style="font-family: "\22 times new roman\22 "; font-size: large;">for amicus briefs</span><span style="font-family: "\22 times new roman\22 "; font-size: large;">. Please also consider attending the meeting on September 12th mentioned below. </span><br />
<br />
<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">To Supporters of Ending Common Core Exams in Pennsylvania:<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Despite Act 1 of 2016, which suspended any use of the Keystone exams or the Project Based Assessments for graduation purposes during the two year period of 2016-18, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is blatantly ignoring the law and issuing directives to local school districts to use the exam if they want to for graduation. <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">It certainly appears that PDE has shown their solid commitment to the Common Core testing process and the continued collection of data. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">They don’t seem to care about or respect the law. This is not government by the elected legislature but government by the bureaucracy. <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">You will be interested to learn the taxpayers of Pennsylvania, since 2008, spent $1.1 billion on these Common Core tests, with $741 million of that going to one testing company, Data Recognition Corporation (DRC). <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Please view the supporting material at the following links: </span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">1. <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.senatordinniman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Explanation-of-the-DRC-Contract-20160830.pdf">An explanation of the Data Recognition Corp. (DRC) contracts.</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> <br />
<br />
2. <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.senatordinniman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/PDE-Exam-Contracts-with-DRC-20160830_1.pdf">A chart showing the DRC contracts</a></span>, which come to <b>$741,158,039.60</b>, and the total paid to date of $440,512,625.69.<br />
<br />
3. <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.senatordinniman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Attachment-to-Work-Log.pdf">A listing of material</a></span> requested from PDE but, as of this date, not provided.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">4. A <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.senatordinniman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/NYT-Keystone-article-Ravich-20160830_1.pdf">column from the July 23, 2016 New York Times</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> providing background on these Common Core Exams, which in Pennsylvania are the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and Keystone Exams.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Additionally, it appears that PDE is forcing the children of parents who opted out to take the Project Based Assessment, whose use is currently suspended by the legislature. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">There seems to be no respect by PDE for the rights of parents concerning their own children.<br /><br /><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><span style="background-color: #f4cccc;"><b>
So the question now is “what will we do about this situation?” If you know parents or organizations who might want to take PDE to court or file amicus briefs, let me know. </b><br /><br /><b>
In the meantime, I am having a meeting for those concerned about PDE’s actions in my district office, One North Church Street, West Chester, on Monday, September 12th, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
<br />This is a matter of great importance. A number of us have been working for years against excessive testing and have serious concerns about Common Core. Please invite your friends to join in the September 12th meeting.<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Respectfully,<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Andrew E. Dinniman<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">State Senator, 19th District</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><br /><br />
</span>
<!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-79319604963635204992016-08-16T09:25:00.000-04:002016-08-16T09:25:56.136-04:00Opt Out Letters 2016-2017<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: large;">Letter for online programs and assessments such as </span><span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: large;">PSSA and keystone exam test prep, CASEL, surveys, questionnaires etc.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I am writing to inform you that
[my child] be excused from all CDT, Study Island and any other computer
assessments, questionnaires, surveys and programs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there is a computerized assessment or program my
[son/daughter] must take, I require prior written parental informed consent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would also request an anonymous
student login where [his/her] name or student ID is not attached or
paper/pencil assessment where data mining would be limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Please remove my child from any
and all CASEL programs, including, but not limited to the programs listed
below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">After much research regarding
common core, Pennsylvania’s statewide longitudinal data system and its collection
and sharing requirements, I have become even more suspicious and skeptical on
the state's ability to secure data.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since my [son/daughter] is not of legal age to legally bind
[herself/himself] to ownership of [her/his] personal data, that responsibility
falls on [her/his] parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since
the Pennsylvania Department of Education will not allow parents to opt out of
the increasingly invasive data collection through PIMS I will remove [him/her]
from the means for data collection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #16191f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">I am sure you can appreciate my
desire to protect [name] from the possibility of identity theft at an early
age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I do have concerns with
the educational value, security and privacy of the common core aligned CDT, Study Island, GAFE (Google Apps For Education) and especially the new CASEL
programs, my biggest concern with electronic assessments is data collection and
privacy of my minor child and the adverse repercussions of personal data on
college and career opportunities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/4rs-reading-writing-respect-and-resolution"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">4Rs (Reading, Writing,
Respect, and Resolution)</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/als-pals"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Al's Pals</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/caring-school-community"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Caring School Community</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/competent-kids-caring-communities"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Competent Kids, Caring
Communities</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/highscope-educational-approach-for-preschool"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">HighScope Educational
Approach for Preschool</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/i-can-problem-solve"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">I Can Problem Solve</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/the-incredible-years-series"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">The Incredible Years
Series</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/michigan-model-for-health"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Michigan Model for
Health</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/mindup"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">MindUP</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/open-circle"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Open Circle</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/paths-promoting-alternative-thinking-strategies"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">PATHS (Promoting
Alternative THinking Strategies) </span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/peace-works-peacemaking-skills-for-little-kids"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Peace Works:
Peacemaking Skills for Little Kids</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/positive-action"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Positive Action</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/raising-healthy-children"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Raising Healthy
Children</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/resolving-conflict-creatively-program-rccp"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Resolving Conflict
Creatively Program (RCCP) </span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/responsive-classroom"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Responsive Classroom</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/ruler"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">RULER</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/second-step"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Second Step</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/social-decision-making-problem-solving-program"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Social Decision Making
/ Problem Solving Program</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/steps-to-respect"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Steps to Respect</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/too-good-for-violence"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Too Good for Violence</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/tools-of-the-mind"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Tools of the Mind</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/tribes-learning-communities"><span style="color: #0c61b2; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Tribes Learning
Communities</span></a><span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #313131; font-family: Times; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Source and descriptions of programs:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/">http://www.casel.org/guide/programs/</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-25327807032443225182016-08-11T07:59:00.001-04:002016-08-11T07:59:18.394-04:00Keystone Graduation Requirement ChangesThe Pennsylvania Department of Education had to respond to the issues around the Keystone exam requirement and the PBA. <a href="http://www.education.pa.gov/Documents/K-12/PDE%20Act%201%20Report.pdf"> THIS IS THEIR REPORT</a>, which needs to go to the general assembly for a vote. Once it does, students will have four options to get through the Keystone exams.<br />
<br />
This is the PDE recommendations from page 3 of the above linked report:<br />
<br />
<div class="page" title="Page 3">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<ol>
<li style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Adopt and implement four options for students to demonstrate postsecondary readiness as follows:
</span><br />
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-latin;">
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Option 1: Achieve an identified composite score, based on performance across all three
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Keystone exams (Algebra I, Biology and Literature);
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Option 2: Achieve equivalent score(s) in standards-based subject matter content area(s) on one
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">of the alternate assessments approved by PDE;
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Option 3: Demonstrate competency in standards-based subject matter content through course
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">grades or assessments plus, for students who are identified as Career and Technical Education
(CTE) Concentrators, demonstrate evidence of readiness for postsecondary success through
National Occupancy Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI)/National Institute for Metalworking
Skills (NIMS) Skills assessments or Competency Certificates; and
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Option 4: Demonstrate competency in standards-based subject matter content through course
grades or assessments plus evidence related to postsecondary plans that demonstrate
readiness to meaningfully engage in those plans.
</span><br />
</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Discontinue the use of Project Based Assessments as an option for meeting state graduation
requirements.
</span><br />
</li>
<li style="font-family: 'Arial'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Allow local education agencies (LEA) to determine whether or not to include Keystone exam scores on
student transcripts. </span><br />
</li>
</ol>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-32292383662912774622016-04-28T14:48:00.001-04:002016-04-28T14:48:13.345-04:00ACTION: Keystone Exam Grad Requirement for 2016, 2017 & 2018<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Senator Dinniman firmly asserts that students in the class of 2016, 2017 and 2018 cannot be required to pass the Keystone exam for a graduation requirement due to the passing of SB 880. School districts cannot make a local decision on this. SB 880 is the law of the state and overrides local school districts decision to use the Keystone exam as a graduation requirement. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">If you are having issues with your school district about the Keystone exam graduation requirement, email: optoutpatest@gmail.com the below information and I will forward to Senator Dinniman:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">School district</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Year student graduates </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Link to your school website where it states they are still requiring students in 2016, 2017 and 2018 to pass the KE as a grad requirement (if applicable)</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">A statement of your situation</span></li>
</ol>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Sample statement (can be as short or long as you are comfortable with): </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>My daughter is in the class of 2017 and is required to either pass the Keystone exam or take a class her senior year that would cover the content of Biology. This means she would miss out on an elective that she was looking forward to. She has taken the Biology KE twice and didn't score proficient, however her grade in Biololgy class was a B.</i></span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">These will be forwarded to Senator Dinniman over the next couple of days and he is going to handle this as soon as they get back in session on May 4th. </span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-72211436114279234702016-04-10T09:51:00.002-04:002016-04-10T09:51:35.255-04:00Opting your Child out of the PSSA's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCco6sPwGwVRboeio2MUwqb3fW0qe6ilekcTVxan7M2aNqokr8qSVQlwzDgDinD6Biob2n4QTkj5pqWjd4YrCVxS91jJlSHLwvkDmyvBjPbl6yu-MIyVd4QcUBAWXeHyqbANUAUbKxPtL/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+9.48.39+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisCco6sPwGwVRboeio2MUwqb3fW0qe6ilekcTVxan7M2aNqokr8qSVQlwzDgDinD6Biob2n4QTkj5pqWjd4YrCVxS91jJlSHLwvkDmyvBjPbl6yu-MIyVd4QcUBAWXeHyqbANUAUbKxPtL/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-04-10+at+9.48.39+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
View this informative slide show by clicking below:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1b39bdMqlsHNktDalRSeFgySG8/view"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Opting your Child out of the PSSA's</span></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5268572586984733982.post-91679777338442669682016-03-27T09:21:00.003-04:002016-03-27T09:35:19.833-04:00CBE - Competency Based Education<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In PA we currently have CBE in the form of CDT’s and Study Island which are given to students in grades 3-12 and PBA (Project Based Assessment, or in the form of a remedial class where students must </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">score</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> 70% or higher to pass and used as a graduation requirement) , which are given to students (generally in high school) if they don’t score proficient in the Keystone Exams. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What CBE means for students in Pennsylvania, is MORE time doing these electronic programs, many created like ‘gaming’ video games to keep students interest. Students would be on electronic devices for many hours a day while in school. They would proceed on these online programs until they attain “proficiency”, no matter if it takes weeks or months on a certain module. This also means teachers would no longer be teaching, they would be reduced to facilitators, with minimal interaction with students. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">There are health concerns with the time spent using electronic devices and there are concerns with the decline of social interaction between students and their peers. The most dangerous aspect is data mining and privacy as everything a student does on the computer will be collected and shared.</span><br />
<!--EndFragment--></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Snapshot - Global Education 2015-2035 </span><a href="http://www.edu2035.org/pdf/GEF_future-map.png" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">HERE</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Parents Beware</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a;">Across the country, states are adopting corporate-driven policies to experiment with “competency-based” and “personalized learning,” even though there is </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #1a1a1a;">no sound research</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a;"> proving that these are effective educational models.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Complete article <a href="http://emilytalmage.com/2016/03/11/parents-beware/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">HERE</span></a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Personalized Learning: How Big is the Beast?</span><br />
<h1 class="entry-title" style="box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.225; margin: 0px 0px 1.05em;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With its reliance on one-to-one digital devices, digital courseware, artificial intelligence, and massive data collection, personalized learning promises to reap big rewards for investors and corporate executives. Just how big is the beast? Let’s take a look. </span> </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Complete article </span><a href="http://emilytalmage.com/2016/03/22/personalized-learning-how-big-is-the-beast/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: xx-small;">HERE</span></a></span></h1>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="color: #222222; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0.75em 0px 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Pearson: Competency-based education will replace standardized testing</span></h3>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The Pearson Publishing Company has explicitly stated that their new competency-based programs, now in development, will replace standardized testing. "With ongoing AIEd (Artificial Intelligence Education) analysis of a student’s learning activities, there will be no need for the stop-and-test approach that characterizes many current assessments." </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Compete article </span><a href="http://skrashen.blogspot.com/2016/03/pearson-compentency-based-education.html" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">HERE</span></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Most Intrusive Technology of All Time</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">The Pearson Publishing Company has suggested that technology not only be used to teach content, as in competency-based programs, but should, at the same time, evaluate students' emotional states (Luckin et. al., p. 25). </span></span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is without question the most intrusive idea I have ever seen, not only in education but anywhere. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Complete article</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://skrashen.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-most-intrusive-technology-of-all.html" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">HERE</span></a></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Computers in class 'a scandalous waste of time'</span></div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“I’ve seen so many schools with limited budgets spending a disproportionate amount of their money on technology that doesn’t really bring any measurable, or non-measurable, benefits,’’ he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Schools have spent hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars on interactive whiteboards, digital projectors, and now they’re all being jettisoned.’’ </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Complete article </span><a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/education/computers-in-class-a-scandalous-waste-sydney-grammar-head/news-story/b6de07e63157c98db9974cedd6daa503" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">HERE</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">The Future Of Education Is A Very Dark Place. The Future Is Now</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville', serif; font-size: 16px;">Why was 2015-2016 so important for education? If you haven’t been paying attention, there is a flurry of activity going on with more changes than any one person can keep track of. These events were planned years ago. Some say 2007, but I estimate much of this has been planned </span><a href="https://exceptionaldelaware.wordpress.com/2016/02/26/the-dear-hillary-letter-that-will-cause-your-mouth-to-drop-to-the-floor/" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #0074d9; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville', serif; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">since 1992</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Libre Baskerville', serif; font-size: 16px;">. There are more political and corporate players involved in these agendas then we can imagine. It is a cabal of billionaires and futurists carefully and methodically transforming society to their warped ideals. </span>Complete article <a href="https://exceptionaldelaware.wordpress.com/2016/03/16/the-future-of-education-is-a-very-dark-place-the-future-is-now/">HERE</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Future Agenda's for Global Education</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“The coming decades will see an era of the most radical changes in education since the appearance of national education systems. And the source of these changes will not be in the educational system itself, but rather it will be driven primarily by industries: digital technologies, healthcare, and finance.” Complete article <a href="http://edu2035.org/pdf/GEF.Agenda_eng.pdf">HERE</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Global Education Futures Forum <a href="http://www.edu2035.org/"><span style="color: #cc0000;">HERE </span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Resources for more information on CBE:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://emilytalmage.com/">Save Maine Schools</a> - Emily Talmage</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://skrashen.blogspot.com/">SKrashen </a>- S. Krashen</span></span></div>
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