<div><div><div dir="auto">Please take a moment to read this letter from TNS parent Ella Leitner regarding State Tests, especially if you have a child in 3-5th grade and are considering what to do. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Attached is the opt out form, which you can sign, scan and email to Dyanthe. There are forms available in the office as well. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:0.75rem;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dear families, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem">It’s our 9</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="vertical-align:super;font-size:0.75rem">th</span></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem"> year at TNS and our youngest child (Zack) is now in 5</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="vertical-align:super;font-size:0.75rem">th</span></span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem"> grade. I’d like to take a few minutes to tell you why our family has always supported the opt out/test refusal movement. I am in no way an expert in this issue; I simply come from a place of seeing the testing model played out through my prior professional work in secondary education and higher-ed, and I’m speaking only from the experience of my own kids and our family. Simply stated:</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><ul style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:0.75rem;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">We opt out because we as a family believe these tests are inequitable from a social and educational justice perspective and because they can sap a child’s confidence. </span></p>
</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:0.75rem;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">We opt out because there is so much inherent bias in the questions themselves and because those questions rarely reflect the standards they are supposed to be testing. </span></p>
</li><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type:disc;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:0.75rem;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline">We opt out because the tests, by virtue of being graded on a bell curve, can't truly measure a student’s mastery of subject matter.  </span></p>
</li></ul><br style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px"><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem">We also believe education dollars shouldn’t be spent on test prep, test proctors and test materials, but </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem">should</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem"> be spent on things like art and music and smaller class sizes--and we are grateful to have those enriching experiences here at TNS. As you think about the testing industry in general, ask yourself: Who do these tests benefit? Follow the $–testing companies! It’s certainly not the individual child.</span></span></p><br style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px"><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:0.75rem;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Our now 7th grader did not take the tests in elementary school during her time at TNS, yet that hasn't stopped her from now being engaged in her academics and socially thriving. TNS had taught her how to think, how to self-advocate and how to ask for help when it’s needed. When she does have to take a test or be assessed in any way, she’s confident and prepared and she does very well! </span></p><br style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px"><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem">Opting out has always been our way of standing up in dissent and protesting where we see an injustice, because that’s how we can bring about change. It's a way to push back, but also a way to protect what we feel </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem">is</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem"> working in our school.</span></span></p><br style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px"><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;font-size:12px"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem">For 4th grade families considering the effect of a test score or lack thereof on middle school admissions, remember: It is illegal for a school to evaluate a child for middle school admissions solely on the criteria of a test, but if a test score is present - it must be counted in the rubric. So a poor test performance can actually hold a bright child back from achieving their desired outcomes to middle school of their choice. There </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem">are</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem"> some schools that require tests, but the majority of TNS students go on to middle schools that don’t look at test scores </span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem">at all</span><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;font-size:0.75rem">, or have work-around in their admissions rubrics to accommodate the families that opt out. See how many middle schools use criteria other than testing for the rubric <a href="http://clt1092695.benchurl.com/c/l?u=A11F50B&e=100388A&c=10AC57&t=0&l=329E436D&email=wVaLDJpp4%2F9MjwYc6mVyIASXAE%2FMRK6o&seq=1" style="text-decoration:none;font-size:0.75rem" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></span></p><br style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px"><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:0.75rem;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Whatever your choices on this issue, know that I support you and I’m here to be a sounding board if you so desire. If you want to join me in Opting Out, you can use <a href="http://clt1092695.benchurl.com/c/l?u=A11F50C&e=100388A&c=10AC57&t=0&l=329E436D&email=wVaLDJpp4%2F9MjwYc6mVyIASXAE%2FMRK6o&seq=1" style="text-decoration:none;font-size:0.75rem" target="_blank">th</a>e attached form. (Or just email Dyanthe and ccd your teacher/s in a note.) </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:12px;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:0.75rem;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">My best,</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:0.75rem;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Ella  (Zack’s mom, 5th grad</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:0.75rem;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(56,56,56);font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:14.399999618530273px;word-spacing:1.600000023841858px;line-height:1.38;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><span style="font-size:0.75rem;font-family:"Lucida Grande","Lucida Sans Unicode","Lucida Sans",Geneva,Verdana,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"></span></p><div><img src="cid:170bf7a5c2693f958eb2" style="width:667px;max-width:100%"></div><br><p></p></div>
</div>
</div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr">Parent Engagement Liaison<div>The Neighborhood School PTA</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>