The First Step to Opting Out of Achievement Testing
Children with an identified learning disability may opt out of achievement testing. The first step is to notify ESD. Notification for a child with a learning disability works the same way as notification does for children without a disability.
Parents shall notify the ESD superintendent of intent to home school a child with a disability in accordance with OAR 581-021-0026(1)(f) and (4).
What does it mean to notify ESD? Here’s what is required:
- It must be in writing.
- It must include the child and parent’s name and address. Providing a telephone number and email address are optional.
- The child’s birth date is to be included.
- The name of the school the child is presently attending, or last attended, or if child has not attended school, the name of the public school district in which the child resides.
The rule states that notification should take place 10 days before the start of school. Note this says “should” not “must.” Sometimes a learning disability is not identified until later in the school year. Once a learning disability is identified, the parent should let ESD know if they want to opt their student out of testing. To opt out of achievement testing, the student will need to be on an IEP or PDP.
More on this in my next article. Thanks for reading!
Curt Bumcrot, MRE
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