New York State Education Department finally published the final "opt out" numbers and found that the "opt out" percentage increased by 2% statewide from 20% to 22% of the total student population eligible to take the tests. The NYSED claimed it as flat but that statewide the almost 2% increase means that an additional 22,000 students refused to take the badly flawed tests. That means a total of 240,000 students "opted out", up from 218,000 last year and 54,000 (5%) in 2014.
NYSED claimed only 21% actually "opted out" by receiving a parent's written statement but an additional 1% were absent without parental notification. Last year NYSED did not breakdown the absences and therefore it made it seem that their was only a small increase in the "opt out" rate.
New York City increased their "opt out" rate from 1.5% to 2.4% (or 2% to 3% when absences are included). The low "opt out" rate in New York City are due to three factors. A minority and immigrant population, union leadership's non-support of the "opt out" movement, and a hostile DOE response to the "opt out" movement including threats to take disciplinary action against teachers who express support to their students and their parents. This theme was common in all the major urban cities throughout the State.
By contrast, the mainly white middle class school districts, especially in Long Island were the epicenter of the "opt out" movement is obvious and where 52% of the total student population "opted out". Listed below are the Long Island school districts with the highest "opt out" rates.
School District...............Percentage
Comsewogue......................83%
Plainedge...........................79%
Rocky Point........................78%
Eastport Manor...................77%
Sayille...............................76%
Patchogue-Medford............76%
Bellmore-Merirck...............75%
East Islip...........................74%
Middle Country..................74%
Connetquot.......................73%
Sachem............................70%
Farmingdale......................70%
Hauppauge.......................70%
On the other hand, the lowest "opt out" rates were concentrated in low income minority neighborhoods in Long Island and are listed below
School District...............Percentage
Wyandanch..........................4%
Hempstead...........................5%
Roosevelt.............................8%
Elmont................................10%
Manhasset..........................12%
Central Islip........................15%
Will the "opt out" movement continue to expand? Only if the movement can make more inroads in minority and immigrant communities who appear to be either afraid or uninterested in doing what's in the best interest of their child and the Common Core based inappropriate State tests are not in the student's best interest as its not age appropriate and just brings fear and loathing to their child.
Afraid or uninterested is a bit of an oversimplification. Principals in low income urban districts are effective in bullying students and their parents into rescinding opt out notifications. These parents do not have easy access to legal representation. Administrators in affluent Long Island communities would never dream of strong arming parents with the techniques common across the tracks.
ReplyDeleteBut remember, in NYC the kids receive food and drink during the Common Core testing. This could be their only meal of the day as Chancellor Fariña likes to point out.
ReplyDeleteActually, the very top and most affluent Long Island Districts (Jericho, Syosset, Roslyn, Garden City, Cold Spring Harbor, etc) are not on the list.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Manhasset is a very high wealth district.
(Districts, and this includes the very best districts, with a large number of Asians tend to have lower opt-out rates. Not the lowest...but lower.)
Seems to be more a middle-class white phenomena here on Long Island.
Are those numbers from Manhasset accurate? It is hardly a low income minority district. I would expect an extremely high opt out percentage in that area.
ReplyDeleteChaz, someone posted a comment on your Sat, July 30th post mentioning a Constitutional Convention in 2017 that will speak about our pensions. Can you please share some info about that? Is there really a chance (even a small one) that our pensions will be taken away (or lessened) in the future?
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that the schools are not representative of the District. It is heavily minority and the Superintendent was active against the "opt out" movement.
ReplyDelete