Refusing the Test: Debating Assessment and Accountability in Public Education

Abstract

Through widespread “opt-out” efforts over the past several years, parent and student activists have pressured schools, districts, states, and the federal government to reconsider the extent and limits of state-mandated assessments. This case study focuses on the ethical questions faced by a principal in a school divided over state standardized testing. Facing a new wave of refusals, this leader must respond to parents and teachers who have concerns about testing, as well as other members of her community who support these assessments. This case considers how a school leader might balance different, competing obligations: to respect parents’ rights, acknowledge teachers’ concerns, support student learning, and implement district and state policy.