Conflicting messages from policy makers caused clashes in early March between students and administrators over new state social studies tests.

Many upperclassmen in the US government class attempted to opt out of the new American government test administered on March 9.

“I did not take the test, nor am I going to take the [end-of-year assessment] in May,” senior Hannah Firestone said. “I am already in four AP classes and [I] have to worry about those tests.”

Originally, 25 upperclassmen planned to opt out. Eight students ended up not taking the test.

The new social studies assessments were conceived in 2012 by Ohio Senate Bill 165, “The Founding Documents Act,” designed to assess students on important documents in the history of the United States and Ohio, such as the United States and Ohio constitutions. It was written by the American Institute for Research (AIR).

“Many of [my students] are aware of their requirements to graduate,” said US government teacher Pam Ogilvy. “Many understood that it wasn’t a requirement, so they didn’t feel the need to put themselves through testing when it had no bearing on them.”

The tests are not required for upperclassmen to graduate, though the Ohio Dept. of Education expects upperclassmen in US government and history courses to take the tests. The tests are required for graduation for current and future freshmen. Current upperclassmen are required to have passed the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT) in order to graduate.

Superintendent Dr. Richard Markwardt wrote a letter to the community on March 6 urging students to take the tests for the sake of the district.

“If the students [opt out], the impact on our school district’s Performance Index will be disastrous,” Markwardt wrote. “I am disappointed and frustrated by the actions of these students and their parents.”

Despite being disappointed that students were opting out, Dr. Markwardt said he understood the students’ desire not to take the tests.

“[Testing upperclassmen] doesn’t make a lot of sense to be honest with you,” Markwardt said. “[The state] is asking kids to take a test that doesn’t affect their academic standing.”

Nevertheless, Markwardt asserted that students opting out could hurt the district’s Performance Index.

“[The] Performance Index is the best indicator of how well the public ranks school districts,” he said. “It’s important because it is the number the public uses to rate our school districts.”

According to a document from October 2014 from The Ohio Department of Education titled Impact of Untested Students, “all students [including those opting out] are included in the Performance Index.” Since “no points are earned for tests not taken… having untested students might result in a letter grade reduction.”

“[There are] conflicting sources on whether these will [affect] the Performance Index,” Markwardt said.

He explained that shortly before the tests were administered, the district was told by a spokesperson from the Ohio Department of Education that all tests would be included in the Performance Index.

However, another document from The Ohio Department of Education titled Transition to New Assessments: Impact on Report Cards and Educator Evaluation released just after the tests were administered does not include the American history or government tests as factors in the performance index for this year or next year.

“It’s my understanding that this year districts are given a sort of reprieve,” Ogilvy said. “I know it cannot be used against me for my evaluations and I know that it cannot be used against the students for their graduation.”

Students who voiced concerns about the tests were also disappointed by the administration’s methods for convincing students to take the tests.

“When our District Performance Index is published next year, there will be no footnote indicating that Beachwood’s major drop in performance was the result of the selfish actions of a few who chose to discount the work of so many,” Markwardt wrote in a March 6 letter to the community.

“I was emailed several times and my parents were [told via] email that their decision to opt me out of the test was ‘selfish,’” Firestone said.

“There was a meeting the Friday before the tests where Dr. Markwardt and Dr. Klein talked to us about why we should take the test,” an anonymous student said. “Kids were really frustrated with the meeting.”

“[Dr. Klein] was just reiterating the importance of the tests, encouraging them to take the test and do their best,” Ogilvy said. “Students were concerned [about the meeting].”

“[Dr. Klein] proceeded to lecture students and said that 25 out of 52 students in all three government classes had opted out of state testing,” Firestone said. “He then proceeded to ask us to change our minds and take the test so as not to hurt the school’s reputation.”

There were also questions about the legality of the opt out.

In a letter to the community on February 12, Dr. Markwardt wrote, “There is no provision that permits a parent or student to opt out of state testing.” In his subsequent letter to the community, Markwardt acknowledged that “as a school district, we have no means of preventing parents from granting permission to their children to skip the exam.”

“I maintain and standby that there was no provision for students to opt out,” Markwardt said. “The law says these students are supposed to take these tests, whether I like it or not.”

Director of Marketing and Communications Doug Levin and Dr. Markwardt clarified that students are legally required to take the tests, but the state and individual districts have no means of punishing students for not taking the tests.

However, students felt that they were not breaking any laws in deciding to opt out.

“Dr. Markwardt is absolutely right,” Firestone said. “Students aren’t allowed to opt [themselves] out of tests–[but] parents are allowed to opt their children out.”

According to Ohioans Against the Common Core, a group opposed to PARCC and AIR state testing, Ohio Safe Harbor Law gives permission to parents to opt their children out of testing.

“I am in a government class, and we are taught to exercise our rights as citizens,” Firestone said. “This is my right.”