Illinois Opt Out bill will prevent schools from forcing Opt Out students from 'Sit and Stare'.... Raise Your Hand and other supporters are asking people to call their senators and reps to support HB 306...
A major piece of legislation that may yet gather bi-partisan support in the Illinois General Assembly would establish a family's right to opt out their children from so-called "standardized" tests. The Opt Out bill, when it becomes legislation in Illinois, would then prevent some administrators and even school districts from tyrannizing students who opt out by making them "Sit and Stare" (instead of reading or doing other activities) during so-called "standardized" tests.
Illinois State Rep Will Guzzardi (left) with State Senator Willie Delgado on the campaign trail. Guzzardi's Opt Out bill, HB 306, is gaining support in the Illinois General Assembly.HB 306, the Opt Out bill, was introduced in the Illinois General Assembly by Representative Will Guzzardi and is now pending. A movement in support of the legislation will add to the growing Opt Out movement in Illinois and across the USA.
On April 15, Raise Your Hand issued the following update to those of us who had signed a Move On Org petition about HB 306, the Opt Out bill:
Dear Petition Signers,
There is a movement growing around the country to oppose the misuse and overuse of testing with massive opt-out numbers in many states. 40% of students in Albuquerque, New Mexico Public Scohols refused the PARCC test. Thousands of students refused the test in New York yesterday as their testing window begun. Many more states have high refusal numbers. In Illinois, some students are able to refuse and do quiet work during testing and other students are still sitting and staring at a wall. We want clear and consistent policies and the ability for parents to weigh in on this matter. It shouldn't be left up to a child to tell their teacher they don't want to take the test. We need you to call your state rep in the House this week. A vote on HB306 in the IL house is going to happen by the end of next week. It's simple, just call your rep and say, "I'm a constituent of Rep ____ and I would like Rep ______ to support HB306, the opt-out bill." If you don't know who your state rep is you can find them here: http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddress.aspx Email us with any questions: info@ilraiseyourhand.org Thank you for your advocacy! Raise Your Hand for IL Public Education www.ilraiseyourhand.org
