Statement by
Penelope A. Morrell, State Director
Concerned Women for America of Maine
To Members of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee
Regarding L.D. #95, “An Act To Provide a Method for a Student To Be Excused
from Standardized Testing”
February 7, 2017
Chairs Senator Langley and Representative Kornfield, and distinguished members of the Education and Cultural Affairs Committee, thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony on this legislation. I’m Penny Morrell, State Director of Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Maine.
I regret that I was unable to submit my testimony at the hearing, and appreciate your attention to these comments.
We support this legislation to allow parents to decide what testing their child will take. The Supreme Court has already affirmed parents’ rights regarding testing, but local schools are able to pressure students and parents to participate. Also, this legislation will require educators to notify parents about the testing and the parents’ rights to opt out. Parents deserve to know their rights especially when it pertains to what’s best for their children. Currently, parental notification is not allowed.
Especially upright in this bill is the fact that the Department of Education may not penalize a school for excusing a student from an assessment, and the school may not penalize a student for being excused from an assessment.
We urge this committee to vote “Ought To Pass” on L.D. 95.