State by state template created by UOO,

http://unitedoptout.com
Testing opt-out/Refusal guide for: VIRGINIA
Form completed by United pt ut Admin !""#
$ontact information !email# unitedoptoutnational%gmail&com
'ist of Assessments
(tandards of 'earning !('s#
The (tandards of 'earning !('# for Virginia Public Schools establish minimum expectations
for what students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade or course in English,
mathematics, science, history/social science, technology, the fine arts, foreign language,
health/physical education and driver education
http!//wwwdoevirginiagov/testing/indexshtml
(pecial considerations for t)e abo*e assessments
"nline is now the primary delivery mode for all S"# assessments, although tests continue to be
available in paper$and$pencil format for students with a documented need
State law does not re%uire students pass grade$level exams to move up to the next grade nor does
it re%uire remedial instruction/summer school for students who fail
Some local school divisions require students pass &ath and #anguage 'rts S"# exams to move
up a grade level while others use the scores as an indicator to determine advancement or
retention
High school students must pass end-of-course SOL tests in order to graduate, so skipping the test
could mean forfeiting a diploma Students who refuse tests get a score of (ero Elementary
school students may face no conse%uences
)owever, parents should pay close attention to division policy during the middle school years
State law does not define the criteria for identifying students for gifted or advanced
courses Some school divisions use S"# test scores as a factor to make such decisions
' (ero, especially on a &ath or #anguage 'rts S"# exam, might prevent selection for those
courses *or example, a score of (ero on a &ath S"# test could make a student ineligible for
This is not a legal document. It is for informational
purposes only.
Template revised: 7.7.!"#
State by state template created by UOO,
http://unitedoptout.com
'lgebra + in ,th grade -ith the course progression followed in most school divisions, the child
would be unable to take .alculus in /0th grade
State law re%uires students pass S"# exams in certain high school level courses to graduate,
including English //, 'lgebra +, 1eometry, 'lgebra ++, Earth Science, 2iology, .hemistry, -orld
)istory Part +, -orld )istory Part ++ and 3S )istory
+rocedures for opt-out/refusal
There is conflicting information about what is re%uired
Parents who refuse S"# testing for their children must be aware of their local school divisions
policies on promotion, summer school/remedial instruction and %ualifications for
gifted/advanced courses
'ccording to one parent, 4+n Virginia, or at least as far as we were advised, there is no code for
parent opt$out, so our son was listed as 5refusal/disruption6 and also given a score of 7/ *'+#8
)owever, another parent said! 43nder state guidelines, S"# scores cannot be used to determine
placement for the next academic year So, if your child6s school or your school division told you
that your child had to pass an S"# to move to the next grade level, they lied8
9et another stated! S"# participation is only re%uired by state law in order to receive credit
towards high school graduation in named high school courses :such as 'lgebra, 1eometry, etc;
Should your child not participate in S"# testing at the elementary or middle school level,
nothing bad happens + know < we have withdrawn our son from P-.S mathematics S"#
testing from =th through >th grade < hasn6t taken the test? he6s never been retained
See! http!//pwceducationreformwordpresscom/07///7@/0//opting$out$of$state$tests/
'lso see! http!//allthingsedublogspotcom/07/@/7>/the$opting$out$conundrumhtmlA
show.ommentB/@C0>/@,D=@/7
-hile there is no opt out provision in state law, there is no law, policy or regulation prohibiting
parents or students from refusing the tests The student receives a score of (ero but is not forced
to take any exam that you as a parent or the student have refused
Each school division/school board has the authority to pass policies and regulations that govern
how their school division operates, including establishing criteria for promotion, inclusion in
remedial courses, inclusion in gifted or advanced courses and awarding of grades
This is not a legal document. It is for informational
purposes only.
Template revised: 7.7.!"#
State by state template created by UOO,
http://unitedoptout.com
Urgency for opt-out/refusal
)igh Stakes TestingE
+s not scientifically$based and fails to follow the 3S 1overnmentFs own data on
learning
*osters test$driven education that is not meeting the individual/intellectual needs of
students
Presents a racial and economic bias that is beneficial to white middle/upper class students
and detrimental to second language students, impoverished students and students of color
+s in opposition to the corrective action in gaps in opportunity and resources sanctioned
by the *iscal *airness 'ct
Supports complicity of corporate interests rather than democracy based on public
concerns
*osters coercion over cooperation with regards to federal funding for public education
Promotes a culture of lying, cheating and exploitation within the school community
)as used the achievement gap to foster a 4de facto8 segregation that has resulted in
separate and une%ual education for minorities
'dditionally, data collection of studentFs private information cannot be guaranteed
security or that it will not be abused in some way by third party entities

#ow/poor test scores will be used to fire teachers, create more online learning scenarios even in
elementary schools, and close more public schools to be replaced with for$profit charter schools
(ample language to include in opt-out/refusal
This is not a legal document. It is for informational
purposes only.
Template revised: 7.7.!"#
State by state template created by UOO,
http://unitedoptout.com
2ecause of the heavy use of computers to deliver S"# tests, parents might try opting out on a
clause regarding privacy or technology :ie computer$based reading causes migraines; "ther
options include!
/ Gefusal for religious reasons
0 Gefusal to sign the internet agreement at the 2E1+HH+H1 of the year
@ -ithdrawing the child before the test and re$enrolling once it is complete
The following faiths can use the Ethic of Geciprocity as a religious reason for Iopting outI of
H.#2 testing )ttp://,,,&religioustolerance&org/&&&
J 2ahKFL *aith! 'nd if thine eyes be turned towards Mustice, choose thou for thy neighbour that
which thou choosest for thyself
J 2uddhism! )urt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful
J .onfucianism! No not do to others what you do not want them to do to you
J )induism! This is the sum of duty! do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you
J +slam! Hone of you OtrulyP believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself
J Qudaism! -hat is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man This is the law! all the rest is
commentary
J*or 'theist itFs either Must morally wrong or itFs the pseudo$science of standardi(ed testing in
this country is the intellectual e%uivalent of intelligent design or creationism
(ample pt ut 'etter
Near Principal R,
+ am the parent/guardian of R, a student at your school, School + acknowledge + have a right to
guide the upbringing and education of my child and the Supreme .ourt has upheld this right
'ccording to the 3S .onstitution, specifically the /=th 'mendment, + am protected by my
rights to religious/spiritual freedom and this federal law supersedes state in regard to parental
control over one6s child 3nder the law, you cannot deny my re%uest
Parental rights are broadly protected by Supreme .ourt decisions :&eyer and Pierce;, especially
in the area of education The Supreme .ourt has repeatedly held that parents posses the
4fundamental right8 to 4direct the upbringing and education of their children8 *urthermore, the
.ourt declared that 4the child is not the mere creature of the State! those who nurture him and
direct his destiny have the right coupled with the high duty to recogni(e and prepare him for
additional obligations8 :Pierce v Society of Sisters, 0>, 3S D/7, D@=$@D; The Supreme .ourt
critici(ed a state legislature for trying to interfere 4with the power of parents to control the
This is not a legal document. It is for informational
purposes only.
Template revised: 7.7.!"#
State by state template created by UOO,
http://unitedoptout.com
education of their own8 :&eyer v Hebraska, 0>0 3S @S7, =70; In "eyer- t)e (upreme
$ourt )eld t)at t)e rig)t of parents to raise t)eir c)ildren free from unreasonable state
interferences is one of t)e un,ritten .liberties/ protected by t)e 0ue +rocess $lause of t)e
Fourteent) Amendment& :0>0 3S @SS; +n recognition of both the right and responsibility of
parents to control their children6s education, the .ourt has stated, 4It is cardinal ,it) us t)at
t)e custody- care and nurture of t)e c)ild reside first in t)e parents- ,)ose primary
function and freedom include preparation for t)e obligations t)e (tate can neit)er supply
nor )inder&/ !+rince *& "assac)usetts- 123 U&(& 345#
This letter is notification that + am opting out my child of the R test + do have a reasonable
expectation that neither + nor my child will be harassed, bullied or coerced to change my
decision
Signed,
Parent/1uardian
Resources and organi6ations
*air Test http!//wwwfairtestorg/state$national$rebellion$against$highstakes$testin
"pting "ut of the State Test http!//pwceducationreformwordpresscom/07///7@/0//opting$out$
of$state$tests/
(tate specific ,atc)-list
Virginia +nstitute for Public Policy http!//wwwvirginiainstituteorg/eriphp
Students for Education Geform at 3V' https!//wwwfacebookcom/sferuva
Additional or miscellaneous information
See V' "pt "ut stories
This is not a legal document. It is for informational
purposes only.
Template revised: 7.7.!"#
State by state template created by UOO,
http://unitedoptout.com
http!//articleswashingtonpostcom/07/@$7D$0>/local/@SD=D//>T/Ttests$high$school$students$
prince$william
http!//wwwnewsleadercom/article/''/07/@7>/=/HE-S7//@7>/=770D/GeMecting$S"#$testing$
more$common
V' is reMecting .ommon .ore standards! IThe 2oard of Education is committed to the Virginia
Standards of #earning :S"#; program and opposed to adoption of the newly developed .ommon
.ore State Standards as a prere%uisite for participation in federal competitive grant and
entitlement programs
IThe Standards of #earning are clear and rigorous and have won the acceptance and trust of
Virginia educators -hatever adMustments might be warranted to ensure alignment of the S"#
with the .ommon .ore State Standards can be made within the process through which the 2oard
of Education exercises its constitutional authority to establish standards for the commonwealth6s
public schools8 http!//wwwdoevirginiagov/news/newsTreleases/07/7/Mun0=shtml
This is not a legal document. It is for informational
purposes only.
Template revised: 7.7.!"#