CCSS Parent Opt Out Form

Here is a CCSS Parent Opt Out form for parents to use in expressing their desires to their child’s school. You can download this form to use and share.

J.R. Wilson

55 thoughts on “CCSS Parent Opt Out Form”

  1. The form is getting a lot of attention. I would love to see one school ban together and have hundreds of parents march the forms into the school office. Hopefully it will start a brush fire across the country.

  3. This is pretty amusing. Schools are being directed by their state governments, who have signed a contract agreeing to implement CCCS. They are going to take one look at this form and laugh themselves silly. You cannot simply “opt out” of CCCS – if your state is in any of the consortia, and have implemented it, there are NO classrooms that aren’t teaching it in public schools.

    Some states allow an opt-out of summative testing based on religious exemption. Many do not.

    Sending this form in with your child accomplishes two things: it makes you look like a tool for the fact that you’re demanding to “opt out” of PUBLIC education, for which you do NOT pay, despite the fact that you’re choosing to place your child in the public school system for that state, and it also labels your poor kid as being the son/daughter of “That Parent”.

    Good luck!

    1. How about reading page 2 as it discusses what it will accomplish, but thanks for your *substantive* comment.

      I also think you’re forgetting that we are taxpayers so our money is funding public education.

        1. bemmott,
          School district tax percentages are itemized on you annual property tax statments. So, yes, you do have a “say”. You’ve agreed, when you pay your taxes, to that percentage of your annual property taxes to be applied to school district expenses. If you’re a property or homeowner you should know this. If not, you should investigate.

          1. I don’t care if my tax bill is itemized or not…..I don’t have the option of walking into my town tax collector and simply stating that I refuse to pay the school portion!! Sorry, doesn’t work like that. You pay your taxes, you pay for the local public school system whether you utilize it or not.

          2. Find out WHO approves the budget for the school!!! That is where you have to go to impact the outcome of how your money is spent. If you wait until the County Assessor is dealing with allocating the money, then you are too late! You must attend the required budget hearing in order to have a say!

        2. You won’t have a say if you don’t attend the budget hearing when the school board holds it and speak your mind!!! If you sit at home and wait for “somebody else” to do the dirty deed, then indeed “like you have any way where your tax dollars are spent!”

    2. “PUBLIC education, for which you do NOT pay”- We do all pay and pay and pay and pay and pay some more, those of us who pay taxes. We pay monetarily and we pay by a resulting populace that continues to regress.

    3. PUBLIC education, for which you do NOT pay,Maybe you dont pay but Im sure the rest of us do,but you have to work so you can pay taxes that PAY for PUBLIC EDUCATION,idiot.

      1. *facepalm* Seriously?

        We all pay taxes. But you do not pay tuition for public school, which is clearly what I meant.

        As for me being an idiot, my supervisors and clients seem to think otherwise. While I am not a fan of the CCCS, I do work for a state which agreed to implement them. I also am on the team that is responsible for interpreting them, poorly written as they are, and then creating a summative assessment for the public school systems.

        However, try looking at your own inability to construct a simple English sentence, and then maybe rethink which of us is the “idiot” here.

        Your school administrators’ hands are tied. Your county school boards’ hands are tied. Some of your state level people’s hands are tied. If you State Board of Education made the decision to implement CCCS, especially if that decision was tied to Race to the Top money, then the die has been cast. It cannot be undone until the statute expires.

        Submitting this form is a waste of time, ink, and paper. You can call me names, insult my intelligence, insinuate that I hadn’t read the entire document like another responder. None of that changes the simple fact that calling this an “opt out” form is misleading.
        Parents do *not* have the option of “opting out” of CCCS instruction or assessment if they choose to leave their kids in the public school system.

        The idiots are those who claim otherwise.

        Quoting Disqus :

        1. so… it’s irrelevant to you as well? But you chose to post… I think it IS relevant; These are the children with whom ours will be interacting as they grow up and enter the workplace. Shaping the culture of where they live. Loosing the patriotism and responsibilities of good citizenship that they will never be taught in place of globalism. Gone is American exceptional-ism pride, work ethic, competitive natures, culture, identity, poof- in one generation.

        2. You know, you CAN disagree with people without being an insulting ass. Try it sometime.

        3. Not only are you condescending, arrogant, and emotional. You really are very naive of this goverment autocratic administration. Since you’ve already surrendered to their autocracy, maybe you should stop posting. You sound soooo, soooo, Negative.

        4. “Your school administrators’ hands are tied. Your county school boards’
          hands are tied. Some of your state level people’s hands are tied. If
          you State Board of Education made the decision to implement CCCS,
          especially if that decision was tied to Race to the Top money, then the
          die has been cast.”

          I think you just perfectly described the issue at hand. That’s exactly the problem! However, our teachers won’t take a stand until we do. Our Principles won’t take a stand until the teachers do. Our Districts wont take a stand until the Principles do. And finally our state boards won’t take a stance until the districts do.

          As you can see… The only way to untie these hands you speak of is starting with the person you see everyday in the mirror. Until he/she speaks out, everyones hands are tied.

        5. The “idiots’ are the likes of those that ‘JUST ACCEPT’ this!! It MUST be addressed at the local, & state educational sytems with the VOICE’S of those of us THAT DO NOT ACCEPT KILLIAN’S ‘expertise’ in this..She’s just as wrong here..as those who believed that the young American colony COULD NOT

        6. Perhaps you need to do some research . . . your third paragraph does not apply in my state, and it is disingenuous for you to appoint yourself the resident expert if you don’t know what you are talking about!!!!

    4. You certainly CAN opt out. We did, by schooling our 3 children at home. Of course, you have to give up one spouse’s income, maybe drive an older car, keep that older phone and not pay for data plans, eat out less, hm, all of which sound pretty good to do anyway.

      1. Did you actually read what I said?

        Home-schooling and private schooling are options for those who choose to exercise them.

        This form is being handed out for parents whose children are in PUBLIC school, are who plan to leave their kids in PUBLIC school. This form is demanding to “opt out” of CCCS curriculum and assessment while remaining in a PUBLIC school.

        If you choose to pull your kid out of public school to home school (like I did), then this form is comppletely irrelevant to you, as would be this discussion.

        Quoting Disqus :

        1. Sure, everyone, be discouraged. Make no attempt at a grassroots level to re-localize the schools and curriculum. That’s great. Good job Killian. I think it is great to try to give a voice to those who would not normally speak up. It is worth trying. Those that govern don’t know how we feel because we typically do not speak up. If enough people did this it would have an influence. They are still YOUR children, the actions of whom you are responsible until 18 years.
          I am amazed at how many people I talk to still think Kindergarten is mandatory; it is NOT. Additionally, they feel pressured to put their children in preschool to “get ready for Kindergarten”. During those formative years of laying a moral foundation and sense of identity and family security, keep your children at home! Take an interest, people! I also hear, “Oh, I can’t stand my kid for the whole day”. Really? Well, try taking them out of that situation, show them love at home, security, change the influences in their lives and see how fast they become a pleasure to be around. How much they want to help around the house.

        2. Wait, I am confused… You are ON a committee for interpreting and implementing these and yet you are a homeschooler? And then you had the nerve to make it personal and tell me it is irrelevant for me? I’m not sure if you are some kind of hypocrite or simply a liar.

        3. Irrelevant? It this the type of thought process that is heading this country, let alone our school system, into regression. This should be “RELEVENT” to all americas whether they have children or not. And if they do, whether they are in public or private schools or home schooled, as your are.

        4. This form is not legally binding. School districts will not have the ability to allow students to opt-out. This mandate is coming from the states who have made the deal with the devil.

          1. Please do not make blanket statements as if ALL states are included. In my state we are not a part of the Core Curriculum program, and therefore our curriculum is determined at our local school board level! And in my case, atttending the local school board meetings, speaking your mind, and stating your reasons will DEFINITELY be heard!

        5. Killian: Good that you have opted to remove your children from becoming ‘worker bees’ under the Federal Government’s Common Core agenda to have them become ‘serfs’ for the PROGRESSIVE U.N. Agenda 21.. which the ‘bottom line’ is for Common Core’s curriculum’s NOW implemented with only 5 states taking a stand NOT TO HAVE IT

      2. homeschooling is not an opt-out option, unless your kids don’t plan on attending college. The college entrance exams will be based on Common Core.

        1. Since when??? In my state anyone, no matter where they received their education, can take a college entrance exam and upon receiving a satisfactory grade, is eligible to attend!

    5. Whoever told you that “Public Education is Free” is a liar, and you’re a fool for believing them! The simple fact that you don’t pay the educators DIRECTLY doesn’t make it free, by any means. “Public Education” is the most expensive and least productive form of education to be found in these United States.

      In some States, it may be true that Parents cannot opt their children out of certain types of public school indoctrination, but in most States that isn’t the case. Most places the local School Board can select the courses of study, with the caveat that certain basic requirements must be met for a school to be “accredited” and receive State and/or federal funding. That’s the extent of “their” control over local education. Refuse their money and you can refuse their direction.

      If you can simply defeat “Social Studies” and return your school to normal history, geography and government you have removed the core lever for indoctrinating your children. Children will “socialize” naturally, within whatever groups are present in their community. As they age those groups blend naturally, just as they do in the “real world” outside the ivory towers of the educrats. Young people adapt MUCH more readily than older folks, if we’d only give them a chance.

      Follow your hearts. Make sure your children are being trained in accordance with your own value system, and you won’t be disappointed with the quality of their education…

    6. Whoever told you that “Public Education is Free” is a liar, and you’re a fool for believing them! The simple fact that you don’t pay the educators DIRECTLY doesn’t make it free, by any means. “Public Education” is the most expensive and least productive form of education to be found in these United States.

      In some States, it may be true that Parents cannot opt their children out of certain types of public school indoctrination, but in most States that isn’t the case. Most places the local School Board can select the courses of study, with the caveat that certain basic requirements must be met for a school to be “accredited” and receive State and/or federal funding. That’s the extent of “their” control over local education. Refuse their money and you can refuse their direction.

      If you can simply defeat “Social Studies” and return your school to normal history, geography and government you have removed the core lever for indoctrinating your children. Children will “socialize” naturally, within whatever groups are present in their community. As they age those groups blend naturally, just as they do in the “real world” outside the ivory towers of the educrats. Young people adapt MUCH more readily than older folks, if we’d only give them a chance.

      Follow your hearts. Make sure your children are being trained in accordance with your own value system, and you won’t be disappointed with the quality of their education…

    8. On the contrary, homeowners, property owners and business owners all pay for teachers employed at public school through county property taxes in their appropiate school district. Parents of children who attend public schools from families who are homeowners pay on average the highest school taxes. So yes, we do retain the right to “DEMAND” as to how our children are being taught. The teachers work for us, not we for them.

  4. Common Core Standards in and of themselves are not the problem. There always were and there always will be formative and summative assessments in education. It is the fact that teachers are no longer trusted to design assessments around the material that children are currently learning, in order to use the information to guide instruction, that is the problem. I do understand why parents are angry about what is going on in their children’s school today. If my children were still in school I would be opting them out of the High Stakes State Tests that are nothing more than money making products designed to suck public money into the private coffers of for profit corporations.

  5. it is all over private and Catholic school too, even more clandestine and shocking. same group of actors brought it in, accreditation groups ( middle states) , intermediate units,
    ( montgomery county), blue ribbon schools, etc. this anti-Christian curriculum accepted by Catholic leaders, par for the course with what is transpiring amongst the Bishops. needless to say alarming in its secrecy. dripping in this curriculum for up to 10 years. there are some true outrages below and Catholics better wake up.

    read these

    don’t you love how they say it ” catches on” same as Duncan says that it was a joint effort of states. wrong.
    http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/10/10/07private_ep.h32.html

    http://www.edexcellence.net/commentary/education-gadfly-daily/choice-words/2012/philadelphia-catholic-schools-pledge-to-pull-back-the-curtain.html

    great schools compact
    http://thenotebook.org/blog/124741/archdiocese-joins-great-schools-compact

    http://www.catholicschools-phl.org/curriculum/curriculum
    blue ribbon
    http://www.faithinthefuture.com/brc/

    http://www.luc.edu/ccse/pdfs/NCEA_handouts_April_12_2012_Common_Core_Diff_Rdg_Planning_3-.pdf

    they are ligned up with this group
    http://www.p21.org/

    http://catholicphilly.com/2011/09/local-news/local-catholic-news/level-best-archdiocesan-schools-adopts-common-core-standards/comment-page-1/#comment-3143

    1. STephanie, you can ask them. Also go to your state Dept. of Ed. and see what has been implemented thus far. This is a state issue and each state will be implementing on different time frames.

    2. This form is not legally binding. IT will not prevent your kids from getting Common Core. That is handed down from the state.

  10. Why do they need the kid’s names??? I would prefer if parents only did the opting out, not including the names of their children. Their names don’t be included in some database or better yet, opt ALL children out automatically. This isn’t necessary!

  11. While I agree with Killian that the only way to truly opt out is to homeschool, I’m thinking that this form, after making some adjustments, might be useful to put schools on notice that parents strongly disapprove. Here is my “adjusted” form (comments to follow):

    Common Core State Standards Opt Out

    As the parent or legal guardian of ___________________________(child’s
    full name), having the fundamental and legal right to direct the
    upbringing and education of this child, I hereby respectfully and
    formally demand that this child:

    [_] be placed in a classroom that will not be using the Common Core State
    Standards.

    [_] be placed in a classroom that provides explicit example-based
    instruction, guided practice, and independent practice to reinforce
    the learning.

    [_] not be administered any assessment related to the Common Core State
    Standards.

    [_] not be administered any assessment involving the use any computer or
    electronic device.

    Keep this demand on file in my child’s cumulative folder.

    I further request:

    that this school avoid enabling or otherwise lending legitimacy to the
    usurpation by the federal government of power regarding education,
    which power the tenth amendment to the Constitution of the United
    States of America denies to the federal government and gives to the
    states and the people.

    that the adoption by this school of any part of the Common Core State
    Standards be preceded by disclosure, to the parents or legal
    guardian(s) of all students, of a true and honest accounting of any
    and all direct and indirect costs related to the adoption and
    implementation of the Common Core State Standards and all related
    assessments.

    that any expenditure by this school for anything related to or supporting
    the adoption and implementation of the Common Core State Standards
    or related assessments, professional development for teachers and
    administrators, or CCSS-aligned instructional materials, be preceded
    by approval from a majority of the taxpayers of the school district.

    that this school avoid disclosing to the state longitudinal data system,
    or to any other state or federal or private entity whatsoever, any
    child-specific data or information, without prior full disclosure to
    and approval from the parent or legal guardian of the child, of the
    data and information to be disclosed, how and to whom it is to be
    disclosed, and how it is to be used.

    Child’s name___________________________ Grade Level_________

    Parent’s name___________________

    Parent’s signature__________________________ Date___________

    School Name_____________________________

    School District_____________________________ School Year_________

    1. Home Schoolers will not be able to opt out of Common Core unless you are not college-bound, because there is going to be a college entrance exam based on Common Core.

      1. College is not the end-all be-all of a persons life or career. There are other ways to succeed.

  12. Notes on my changes to the Common Core State Standards Opt Out form

    Rather than “realize” my right (why should the school care
    what I realize, or whether I realize this or any other particular
    thing?), I simply state my right as a preface to what follows.

    Since I may be a legal guardian, rather than a parent, I’m saying
    “this” child, rather than “my” child.

    Saying “I realize ____ and I respectfully … request ____” does not associate the request with the right. My version makes it clear that my demand is based on the
    foundation of my right.

    Rather than make a request, I make it a demand. This is the result of court experience. If you want a jury trial, you must demand a jury trial. If you only request a jury trial, you will not get one. We tend to avoid making demands, but sometimes it is necessary.

    “example-based” needs to be hyphenated.

    The term “formative or summative assessment” has two problems. For one, any assessment can be either formative or summative, or both. An “assessment”
    or test is formative if it is used to help the teacher to know what
    to teach next. If a teacher spends more time on a subject because a
    test shows that the students were not catching on very well, or if
    the teacher moves on to something else because the test shows that
    the students have mastered that topic, then the test was a “formative
    assessment.” A “summative assessment” is just a test that
    shows how much the students have learned. So if you don’t allow for
    “any formative or summative assessment”, you’re prohibiting all
    testing. Probably not what you want.

    Secondly, using the words
    “formative or summative” only adds confusing buzzwords that
    undermine what we really want. We do NOT want teachers to get away
    with administering a CCSS assessment by claiming that it was neither
    formative nor summative. Just say we don’t want any CCSS assessment,
    and leave it at that. Much stronger.

    “computerized assessment” and “using any computer” seems redundant. “handheld mobile device” could describe a pencil.

    “Please honor my request” is not appropriate for a demand. It’s not a request, and “please” is not appropriate for a demand.

    What follows are the requests.
    Maybe they also need to be demands.. If so, simply change “I
    further request” to “I further demand”.

    For each of these, I think it is
    important to remember to whom this document is addressed. Are we
    sending it to the state government? Is anyone outside this school
    going to see it? If not, it makes no sense to make a request to the
    school, that it do things beyond the scope of the school. If we want
    all the local districts and the state to do something, then the
    request needs to be sent to the state and all the local districts. I
    suggest that since this document is likely only going to the one
    school, that we limit our request/demand, as best we can, to what is
    within the power of the school to do.

  13. Yeah – this will work. /sarc
    You think for one moment that all these liberal indoctrination centers will pay any attention at all to these form letters? If you do I have some prime waterfront property for sale.

    1. If you are confronted by an evil entity who intends to do you fatal harm and will not listen to you pleas for mercy. Will you at least swing back once to save youself? by the way, this waterfront property you have for sale. Did you buy it in Arizona or New Mexico?

  14. Hello, do you have any info re: the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance? It focuses on early childhood ed and I believe is the precursor to common core. (Child directed lessons, based on Piaget and Vygotsky, greatly promoted by extremely far left leaning institutions—U Mass Amherst–…..etc.) A lot of info about this group has been scrubbed since I first started researching it. Thanks

  16. How much weight does this opt out form really have behind it? I have just found out (today in fact) that my daughter’s private, parochial school will be moving towards the CCSS. I am so saddened and angry by this. Living in NY I am going against the current here. Has anyone used this “opt out form” or is this just “for show”?

    1. Geez, NY has just been designated the least free State in the country to live in – heard it on Fox News last night!!! I am sorry to hear that is where you are . . . can you move to a more “freedom friendly” state that believes in less government and less regulation??? I haven’t quite figured out how conservatives actually survive in NY and CA which is the next to last least free State. I’m praying for you!

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