PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. -- Some school districts in Putnam and Westchester counties are reporting high "opt out" or parent refusal rates on standardized tests being conducted statewide this week.
High opt-out numbers from Mahopac, previously reported earlier this week, were first to surface. For more on that, click here.
Schools in Putnam Valley and Ossining reported opt out figures of between 25 and 35 percent depending on the grade level of those taking the state English Language Arts assessment.
At Putnam Valley Middle School, 190 students have opted out, which represents 35 percent of the total 543 eligible students in fifth through eighth grades.
A total of 74 Putnam Valley Elementary School students opted out, which represents 30 percent of its 244 pupils in third and fourth grades.
In Ossining, a total of 402 students opted out in grades three through eight of 2,122 eligible test-takers. That averages out to about 19 percent opting out. But in individual grades at Ossining's Anne M. Dorner Middle School, the opt-out rates were as high as 27 percent for the eighth grade and 28 percent for the seventh grade.
Ossining Schools Superintedent Raymond Sanchez said, "We are respecting the decision of all parents. . . The truth is we do need to sit down and carefully look at how to come to a resolution on this."
Valhalla Union Free School District reported opt-out rates of 23 percent for grades three through five -- where 75 of 331 eligible students opted out of the English Language Arts assessment. The opt-out rate was 35 percent for grades six through eight, where 132 of 375 eligible Valhalla students opted out of taking this week's tests.
Yorktown Central School District reported that about 30 percent of its elementary school pupils opted out of the ELA assessment. And 27 percent of Yorktown's middle school students opted out.
Click here to follow Daily Voice and receive free news updates.
