Ridgewood Mom: Boycott Standardized Tests

One Ridgewood parent's two sons won't be stressing out about standardized tests this week.

Jean McTavish, a New York City school principal, told The Record that she's protesting the NJ ASK tests; her ten-year-old and thirteen-year-old children will skip the ASKs this week.

“After 27 years in education, I can’t imagine a standardized test that will capture authentic learning,” McTavish told the paper in early April. 

She's among many joining the nationwide movement to end the standardized testing.

“Our children are more than test scores! Join us in our fight to save public education!" she tweeted on April 14.

While state code says students "shall" take the tests, there are no codified penalties, The Record reported.

The news website quoted Ridgewood superintendent Dan Fishbein as saying he "understands" the rationale to skip the test.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie has made student performance on standardized tests a larger element by which the state evaluates teachers.

What do you think? Should parents opt out?