Opt-out movement continues in Lynbrook, East Rockaway despite changes to state exams

Last year, the New York State Department of Education reformed its English Language Arts and mathematics exams after years of parents refusing to let their children take the tests. The changes, however, did not assuage Lynbrook and East Rockaway parents, who continued to opt their children out of the exams in 2017.

Of the 552 third- through eighth-graders in East Rockaway, 349 students opted out of the ELA test last month, which is down 2 percent from last year. In Lynbrook, 830 out of 1,327 students sat out of the English exam, which was the same amount as last year. The tests used to have an impact on teacher ratings, but with the continued trend of opt-outs, adjustments were made to ensure that the exams are no longer accounted for in teacher evaluations.

“The pushback has helped unlink the teacher evaluations to testing, but we still need to end this unnecessary abuse of our children,” Julie Bergin, a mother of two Lynbrook Public School students, said in an email.

Bergin said she believes that the public schools are being inundated with standardized testing, which is causing unnecessary stress on the students. In 2014, one year after the opt-out movement started, she took to Facebook and wrote that the “love of learning is quickly being diminished,” while stressing that teachers and parents were unhappy.

Back then, Bergin’s daughter sat in the room where the test was taken and had to verbally refuse to take the test. Since then, however, the district has added a separate reading room for those who are not taking the exam. Bergin also said that she is fortunate for the way the district deals with the opt-out movement. “Our school also schedules the tests in the morning, and regular academic day begins around 10 a.m.” she wrote. “This gives parents an option of bringing the kids to school a little later if they can.”

Lynbrook Superintendent Melissa Burak said that she remains open to each parent’s decision. “We respect the fact that parents made the decision based on the needs of their own individual children,” she said. “The Lynbrook School District strives to provide a meaningful and balanced instructional program to best prepare children for their future.”

East Rockaway Superintendent Lisa Ruiz offered a similar sentiment about opt-outs in her district. “We support the decisions made by our students and their caregivers regarding participation in ELA testing,” she said. “Whether or not students took the exams, educators in East Rockaway will continue to provide opportunities for students to reach their maximum academic potential, which will prepare them for the next steps in their educational journey.”