Recently Interim Superintendent Houle offered two informational sessions to the public regarding in person learning and during the first of those sessions she stated that parents are not allowed to opt their children out of the MCAS. That is wrong, incorrect, and not accurate, pure and simple.

While Massachusetts is not an “opt out state,” parents and families can still opt out their children from the MCAS and are doing so all across the state. All they need to do is write a letter to the principal and to their child’s teacher saying that they are opting their child out of the tests. They do not have to provide a reason or rationale.

Also know that when you opt out your child from the MCAS there is no penalty to your child, no penalty to the school, no penalty to the teacher. The state has made clear that there are no consequences related to the tests this year given the enormity of the pandemic. There is no assessment expert who will put any value on tests taken during a pandemic, and so the added stress and trauma that these tests will raise for many children and educators will add no educational value.

It is infuriating that our educational leaders continue to lie and bully the public into taking these tests. Families interested in learning more can go to Citizens for Public Schools (citizensforpublicschools.org) for more information.

Here is a link to a short video on how to opt out of the MCAS and some reasons to do so: https://bit.ly/3wbhYUu. Your children and our teachers are more important than a test score in any year, but especially this one. Say yes to your children’s health and well being by saying no to the MCAS.

Doug Selwyn

Greenfield

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