New STAAR Test in Texas Prompts Parent to Keep Kids at Home

[TexasStooge]

This week, the new STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) tests are issued to Texas-area schools. Like its predecessors (the TAAS and TAKS), the STAAR employs standardized tests to assess students' skills in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies; and from what I'm hearing, they're more rigorous than the predecessors. In McKinney, the new STAAR tests caused so much anxiety with this family, that a mom purposely kept her kids at home from school the entire week in protest of them.

McKinney mom prevents children from taking STAAR test

McKINNEY — Jannine Neely says enough is enough.

The McKinney mom is pulling her kids out of school in protest as the state rolls out the new STAAR test. The exams are more rigorous than the TAKS test, and there are more of them.

Neely was the only parent in the entire McKinney ISD who purposely kept her kids home to prevent them from taking the STAAR test. She believes the exam puts too much pressure on administrators, teachers — and especially the kids.

[somethingfunny]

Considering passing the tests are required to pass the school year, and school is mandatory.... couldn't she be held liable for contributing to truancy?