February 7 2024- Thousands of parents in New York are leading a rebellion against standardized tests, with nearly 200,000 students, or one in five, refusing to participate in the state’s standardized reading and math exams for grades 3-8 administered in the spring, according to data reviewed by The Post. Of the over 1 million eligible students, 18% opted out of the English Language Arts exam, and 17% skipped the math assessment, based on figures from the state Education Department. The state doesn’t penalize students or school districts for opting out of the exams. High boycott rates were particularly notable in Long Island suburbs, reflecting parental concerns about excessive testing and its impact on the curriculum. Critics argue that such testing leads to a narrowed curriculum and a focus on “teaching to the test.”
