Opting Out of State Assessments and the Purposes of Public Education

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

Through widespread “opt-out” efforts, parent and student activists have pressured school districts, states, and the federal government to reconsider the extent and limits of state-mandated assessments. Our session focuses on the distinctly ethical challenges opting out poses for parents, teachers, school leaders and policymakers. This session introduces an “ethical case study,” a richly developed, carefully researched scenario that describes the challenges that opt out activism poses for a school community, its principal, teachers and parents. The session will include a brief overview of the questions raised by opt out activism, including perspectives from leading policy scholars and philosophers of education. Participants will then be able to discuss the case in small, facilitated groups and engage in an interactive discussion.

Sub Unit

• AERA Presidential Session

Chair

• Michele S. Moses, University of Colorado - Boulder

Participants

• Terri S. Wilson, University of Colorado Boulder

• René Espinoza Kissell, University of California - Berkeley

• Meira Levinson, Harvard University

• Jacob Fay, Harvard University

• Tina M. Trujillo, University of California - Berkeley

• Wagma S. Mommandi, University of Colorado - Boulder

• Maravene Taylor-Heine, University of Colorado - Boulder

• Matthew Hastings, University of Colorado - Boulder