When the Idaho Department of Education embraced Common Core Standards and relinquished all decisions to the nationalized education program, Superintendent Luna told the public it was a great boost for Idaho students. Then the name was changed to Idaho Core Standards as educators and parents questioned the validity and reliability of the standards. Next the Idaho Department of Education contracted to be a lead state with Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) to develop electronic testing with imbedded data mining on students. Again we were told this was the method to create students capable and ready for career and college. As parents and educators questioned the need for expensive testing, security of data and loss of classroom teaching time, the name of the test was changed to ISAT2.

As Sir Walter Scott wrote, “Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”

Parents, exercise your right to “opt” your child out of testing. Ask the principal at your child’s school how to “opt out.” Your child’s permanent record will not be affected. Idaho regulations require testing at year-end only. Watch for testing soon after the school year starts … question the need.

CAROLYN MINNICK

Sagle