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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Community Works cuts executive director position ... High-speed White City chase damages 7 vehicles ... Court tosses ruling ordering BLM to log more in Southern Oregon ... Community Works cuts executive director position ... High-speed White City chase damages 7 vehicles ... Court tosses ruling ordering BLM to log more in Southern Oregon ... OUR VIEW Our View: 'Opt-out' bill is a foolish way to make a point MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 12, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Jun. 12, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> A bill that would let parents opt out of standardized testing for their children for any reason whatsoever might seem like a courageous blow against federal meddling in public education, but it could come at a steep price. The Oregon Senate passed House Bill 2655 on Thursday on a bipartisan vote of 24-6. Because the Senate made some minor changes, the bill goes back to the House. It should be allowed to die there, and if it doesn't, Gov. Kate Brown should not to sign it. The bill applies to the Smarter Balanced achievement tests adopted as part of the Common Core education standards. Opposition to the tests is growing across the country, and "opting out" is becoming an increasingly popular way for parents to express their displeasure. Some teachers and parents say the tests are too difficult and confusing for students and waste valuable class time. Students' grades are not affected by their performance. Oregon law already allows parents to excuse their children from taking the tests for religious or philosophical reasons. HB 2655 would allow opting out for any reason at all for the next six school years, and would direct school districts to inform parents that they have that right at the beginning of each year. The Senate changed the original bill to delay implementation until 2016, which is why the measure must return to the House. We are no fans of the explosion of standardized testing, and we do not dispute the notion that preparing for them and administering them takes away from precious instructional time, especially in a state with one of the shortest school years in the country. But here's the problem: Federal education officials are threatening to withhold  $140 million a year in Title I funding if testing participation drops below 95 percent statewide. All told, Oregon receives $325 million in federal education funding. According to the advocacy group Stand for Children, the Medford School District receives $3.5 million a year in Title I money, which goes to schools with large populations of low-income students. Medford has seven Title I schools. Ashland receives $822,925 in Title I funding. Lawmakers can protest against standardized testing all they like, and work with the state's congressional delegation to change federal education policy, but to defy that policy at the risk of losing millions in school funding is short-sighted and foolhardy. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 12, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501