[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-480587-105":59,"doc-detail-480587-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":124,"head_meta":126,"extra_data":128,"updated_unix":130},105,"en","opting-out-of-standardized-tests-qa-overview","Opting Out of Standardized Tests - Q&A Overview","","Opting out of standardized testing in public schools is examined through the evolution from the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The material explains how Texas’ accountability framework still relies on summative standardized exams, particularly the STAAR program, and outlines what questions parents should consider. It distinguishes claimed federal opt-out rights from the ESSA requirement to collect participation information, then addresses Texas rules limiting exemptions and emphasizing that students generally cannot be removed from testing to avoid exams.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/opting-out-of-standardized-tests-qa-overview/480587/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/opting-out-of-standardized-tests-qa-overview/480587.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Margaret","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-31","2026-09-30",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",12,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What standardized tests are required in Texas public schools?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"Texas requires STAAR testing under the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness program. Students in grades 3-8 take annual Math and Reading, certain Writing tests, Social Studies in grade 8, and Science in grades 5 and 8, with additional federal-law-required subjects.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"Does ESSA provide a federal right to opt out of standardized assessments?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"ESSA does not include a federal right to opt out. The document explains that ESSA focuses on district information to parents, and in Texas an opt-out policy is not applicable for standardized assessment participation as described.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"Can students opt out of standardized tests in Texas public schools?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"No. Texas law indicates students may not opt out of standardized or other tests. The exemption described is limited to cases where a parent removes a child from classes or activities due to religious or moral beliefs, and not to avoid a test.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},480587,1790819496,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":29,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":145},137451207643,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","Opting Out of Standardized Tests  \nMany parents, and even many educators, are dismayed by the frequency of and emphasis on standardized tests in public schools. When the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was signed into law in 2002, every state prescribed standardized testing to comply with state plan requirements. School districts’ accountability ratings and reputations became intertwined with standardized test scores. Many felt the emphasis on test scores resulted in an increase in the stress on students, teachers, and administrators and a “teach to the test environment.”  \nWhen NCLB was replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in December of 2015, the new law gave states some leeway in how students were assessed and how assessment would factor into school accountability. However, school accountability is still tied to academic achievement, and Texas, by virtue of its current accountability system, still measures academic success on summative standardized exams.  \nIn Texas, parents who object to standardized testing are publicly discussing the idea of “opting out,” either by keeping their children at home on test dates or by permitting them to abstain from testing. These parents have the right to express their opinions, of course. For example, they might file a grievance at the local level, or even better, express their points of view to state and federal lawmakers who have the power to change testing requirements. However, actually “opting out” isnot as easy as it sounds, and there are serious consequences parents should consider.  \nSchool officials are tasked with the application of state rules on opting out, but engaging parents in a more personal dialogue can be an effective compliance tool. The questions and answers below give an overview of the practice of opting out.  \n1. What standardized tests are required in Texas public schools?  \nStandardized testing is required in Texas public schools by the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or “STAAR,” program set out in Texas Education Code chapter 39 and  \n19 Texas Administrative Code chapter 101. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) publishes detailed information on their STAAR assessment website.1  \n[1 ](1  tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/staar/)[ tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/staar/](1  tea.texas.gov/student.assessment/staar/) .  \nTesting in Grades 3-8: Unless exempt, all students in grades 3-8 take the following STAAR tests:  \n􀁸 Math, annually in grades 3 through 8;  \n􀁸 Reading, annually in grades 3 through 8;  \n􀁸 Writing, including spelling and grammar, in grades 4 and 7;  \n􀁸 Social studies in grade 8;  \n􀁸 Science in grades 5 and 8; and  \n􀁸 Any other subject and grade required by federal law.  \nTex. Educ. Code § 39 .023(a) .  \nHigh School End-of-Course Exams: Students must pass five end-of-course (EOC) exams in order to graduate: Algebra I, Biology, English I (including reading and writing in a single exam), English II (including reading and writing in a single exam), and U.S. History. In some instances, performance on an AP, IB, ACT, SAT, PSAT, ACT-Plan, or TSI assessment can be used to satisfy EOC requirements. For more information about EOC substitute assessments, see TEA’s Substitute Assessments Standards Chart.2  \nBenchmark Testing: A “benchmark” test is a locally-required assessment instrument designed to prepare students for a corresponding state-administered assessment instrument. A school district may not administer more than two benchmark tests to prepare students for the related state-administered assessment. Tex. Educ. Code § 39.0263. In addition, a district may not administer locally-required benchmark tests on more than ten percent of the instructional days in any school year. District campus-level planning and decision-making committees may limit the percentage of instructional days available for benchmark testing to ten percent or less. Tex. Educ. Code § 39.0262.  \n2. What does federal law say about opting out?  \nESSA, like its pred","cbCainzmqZ5Irbrw","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCainzmqZ5Irbrw","pdf",610461,"English","# Opting Out of Standardized Tests\n## Required Texas Tests and Assessments\n### Testing in Grades 3-8\n### High School End-of-Course Exams\n### Benchmark Testing\n## Federal Law on Opting Out\n## Texas Right to Opt Out","[{\"question\":\"What standardized tests are required in Texas public schools?\",\"answer\":\"Texas requires STAAR testing under the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness program. Students in grades 3-8 take annual Math and Reading, certain Writing tests, Social Studies in grade 8, and Science in grades 5 and 8, with additional federal-law-required subjects.\"},{\"question\":\"Does ESSA provide a federal right to opt out of standardized assessments?\",\"answer\":\"ESSA does not include a federal right to opt out. The document explains that ESSA focuses on district information to parents, and in Texas an opt-out policy is not applicable for standardized assessment participation as described.\"},{\"question\":\"Can students opt out of standardized tests in Texas public schools?\",\"answer\":\"No. Texas law indicates students may not opt out of standardized or other tests. The exemption described is limited to cases where a parent removes a child from classes or activities due to religious or moral beliefs, and not to avoid a test.\"}]","Opting Out of Standardized Tests - Q&A Overview | PDF",1790795248,15]