STAAR State Assessments Non-Participation Opt Out Letter - 2021

Sep 30, 2026

Non-Participation Opt Out Letter for STAAR State Assessments, allowing a parent/guardian to remove a child from participating in the 2021 STAAR assessment on the dates administered and any make-up administrations for spring/summer 2021. The letter cites Tex. Education Code §26.010 and the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, states the child’s participation conflicts with the parent’s religious or moral beliefs, and requests that school staff stop further encouragement. It also references COVID-related rules for virtual students, attendance, promotion in grades 3-8, and high school graduation testing schedules.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

STAAR Non-Participation Opt Out Letter

Purpose and eligibility

Authorization basis and removal request

Request to stop encouragement

Effects on promotion, accountability, and attendance

High school graduation testing note

Signature and date

STAAR State Assessments “Non-Participation” Opt Out Letter This form can be used in lieu of a parent/guardian letter. If you are virtual, no letter is required. You may want to use a separate letter for each STAAR assessment and a separate letter for each child you have enrolled in school. Child’s Teacher Principal of School Name of School Name of Student Dear Principal and Teacher/Counselor, Thank you for educating my child. The Texas Education Commissioner has said that virtual students do not have to take STAAR this year due to COVID. I am applying my rights as a parent under Tex. Education Code §26.010 and opting my child out of STAAR this year who is attending school in-person [or virtually.] This letter is to inform you that pursuant to Tex. Education Code §26.010 and the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution, I am removing my child from participation in the 2021 STAARon the date(s) you administer the STAAR assessment and any makeup administrations of the STAAR assessment for spring/summer 2021. His/her participation in the STAAR assessment process conflicts with my [religious or] moral beliefs. I am also informing you to cease any further efforts to encourage my child to take the STAAR this year. I have already received numerous calls for my child to take the STAAR assessment and I respectfully ask that you stop. I have taken this action after careful consideration of the negative effects of the STAAR assessment1 process and for the protection of the mental and physical well-being of my child, and with a full understanding of the potential consequences of this decision. This year STAAR will not count for promotion in grades 3-8 and there will be no state accountability ratings in any Texas schools. My child will complete work asynchronously on STAAR dates so as to continue learning and to be counted as present for attendance purposes as determined by TEA’s COVID attendance guidelines.. For high school students,STAAR is still required in order to graduate. I am aware that my high schoolchild will be able to test in December and May next year and can use a combination of substitute assessments, their spring 2020 COVID STAAR waiver and/or the individual graduation committee to meet their high school graduation requirements. Signature of Parent/Guardian: Date | | | --- | | | | | 1 The STAAR instruments are not referred to in the Education Code as tests. Rather, they are consistently referred to as “assessment instruments.” See, e.g. , Tex. Educ. Code ch. 39.

FAQs

Who can use this STAAR non-participation opt out letter?

A parent or guardian can use it in lieu of their own letter. If the student is virtual, a letter is not required.

What legal and constitutional reasons does the letter cite?

It cites Tex. Education Code §26.010 and the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution as the basis for opting the child out.

What does the letter request school staff to do after opting out?

It asks the school to cease any further efforts to encourage the child to take the STAAR assessment and to stop receiving additional calls.

How does opting out affect promotion and accountability, and what about high school?

The letter states STAAR will not count for promotion in grades 3-8 and there will be no state accountability ratings in Texas schools. For high school, it states STAAR is still required for graduation and that testing can occur in December and May next year using available options.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn Holloway