The primary purpose of assessment in our public schools should be to improve teaching and learning.

Florida’s current system of high-stakes testing offers little benefit for students, parents, teachers or taxpayers. Results from these high-stakes tests are not useful as diagnostic tools to inform instruction. Money to administer these tests is diverted from real educational activities, to the detriment of our children, our district, and our community.

For these reasons and more, we the undersigned, parents, caregivers, students, teachers and taxpayers hereby petition Governor Scott, the Florida State Board of Education and members of the Florida Legislature to immediately halt the practice of relying on state-mandated, standardized exams results for anything other than diagnostic purposes. Test scores should not be used to determine student, teacher, or school evaluations.

We further petition the State Board of Education to immediately develop a comprehensive “Opt Out” policy that allows parents to have their children excused, without penalty, from participating in state-mandated tests until results are used appropriately to improve teaching and learning. Local districts must be directed to offer high-quality educational activities for students whose families choose not to participate in state-mandated testing.