In Texas, the debate over the STAAR testing program continues as more parents choose to opt their children out of the assessment. One mother, Lillian Wesley, made the decision to opt out her 11th-grade son, Joven Wesley, due to the stress and anxiety it caused him.
“I grew up being dyslexic for a while without being diagnosed,” Joven Wesley shared. “Even with being diagnosed and going through all the classes, it’s hard for students like myself to really sit there and actually try to grasp it without messing up on anything.”
Despite the option to opt out, families who choose to do so still face consequences. Hope Smith, a parent in Killeen ISD, opted her autistic son out of the assessment since 3rd grade due to the emotional toll it took on him. However, the family faced backlash from teachers when her son was left out of an ice cream party as a punishment.
“It just brought a lot of anxiety to him,” Smith explained. “These teachers hound these kids about the STAAR assessment so bad to where it was, like, deteriorating him emotionally. It was giving him anxiety.”
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) emphasizes that the STAAR tests are essential for assessing a student’s knowledge of core subjects at their grade level. However, parents like Wesley and Smith believe that their children deserve better and have the right to opt out. The debate over standardized testing in Texas continues as families advocate for the well-being of their children.