Jared Carman put together a great opt-out form you can print and send to the state notifying them that they may not compel your child to participate in computer adaptive testing and may not share your child’s personal information with AIR, the federal government, or any other 3rd party. If everyone would print one of these out for each of your children and mail to the state superintendent, it would certainly be helpful to show our officials that we want them to take this matter seriously.
Form: PARENTAL PERMISSION WITHHELD 2012 0429
Not sure if you want your child to take a computer adaptive test? Not sure what the harm is?
“We’ve been absolutely staggered by realizing that the computer has the capability to act as if it were ten of the top psychologists working with one student.You’ve seen the tip of the iceberg.Won’t it be wonderful when the child in the smallest county in the most distant area or in the most confused urban setting can have the equivalent of the finest school in the world on that terminal and no one can get between that child and that computer?”
Dustin H. Heuston, “Discussion-Developing the Potential of an Amazing Tool,” Schooling and Technology, Vol. 3, Planning for the Future: A Collaborative Model (Southeastern Regional Council for Educational Improvement), p. 8.
Should we send the “Parentral Permission Withheld” letter to anyone else besides Martell Menlove, Utah State Superintendent fo Public Instruction. (ie. school prinicipal, teacher, school district)
Also how will we be able to check that the state respects our wishes on this matter and not share our child’s information?
I would continue contact with Dr. Menlove and ensure that the state has a way to do it. You could provide a copy of the opt-out to your local school district but I’m not sure if this opt-out is designed to prevent them from sharing information with the state.