70 Boardman Street, Norfolk, Massachusetts 02056 February 11, 2014

Tel: 508-528-1225

a!: 508-528-"7"#

Mr. Robert Lee MCAS Chief Analyst and Acting ARCC Coordinator Massachusetts !e"art#ent of $le#entary and Secondary $ducation %& leasant Street Malden MA 0214'(4)0* !ear Mr. Lee+ ,n -anuary 14, 2014 the .orfol/ School Co##ittee 0oted to allo1 "arents to ,"t(,ut of the ARCC 2Field 3est4 that is being ad#inistered this s"ring on a trial basis. 5e belie0e that since this is in addition to the MCAS that the children are re6uired to ta/e and only certain students of the 4th 7rade 1ill be forced to ta/e this test, the "arents of these selected students should ha0e the right to decide 1hether their children are to "artici"ate in this trial. ,ur Su"erintendent shared 1ith us your res"onse to our 0ote and it is your o"inion that 1e are not allo1ed to "ro0ide an ,"t(,ut for "arents based on your siting of Massachusetts La1 and the !e"art#ent of $le#entary and Secondary $ducation8s ruling on MCAS. 9ou, through your legal counsel, sited M7L Cha"ter *), 1l asserting that this test is 2to assess indi0idual students, :co#"rehensi0e diagnostic assess#ent of indi0idual students shall be conducted in the fourth, eighth and tenth grades. ;$m%has&s added '( (our le)al counsel* 5e res"ecti0ely disagree 1ith your assertion since this test is not "ro0iding 2co#"rehensi0e diagnostic assess#ent of indi0idual students4 and that no infor#ation regarding the results are being shared 1ith the "arents, teachers, or indi0idual districts. 5e further assert that this is an issue of "arental rights as to 1hether the Massachusetts !e"art#ent of $ducation has the right to #andate testing that 1ill result in no 6uantitati0e data re"orting. 5e also assert that it is the right of the .orfol/ School Co##ittee to "ro0ide our citi<ens 1ith the right to ,"t(,ut of this "rogra#. 5e 1ould li/e to "oint out that certain !istricts are being allo1ed to ,"t(,ut entirely. 3his is not our re6uest, 1e are only as/ing that "arents ha0e the right to choose 1hat is best for their children. 3he .orfol/ School Co##ittee 1ishes this letter to go on record as our Stron) +',ect&on to the Massachusetts !e"art#ent of $le#entary and Secondary $ducation8s decision that a locally elected School Co##ittee does not ha0e the legal right to allo1 the "arents of the affected children the ability to ,"t(,ut of the ARCC "ilot "rogra#. Sincerely, Sha1n !ooley Chair#an State Re"resentati0e )th .orfol/ 3ho#as !oyle >ice(Chair#an =elly eterson ?udget Chair#an Mar/ Flaherty olicy Chair#an

Norfolk Public Schools School Committee 70 Boardman Street Tel#508-528- 225 !a"#508-528-#7#$
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