Park Slope School Losing Funding for Lack of State Test Participation

PS 10 in Park Slope will lose a $75,000 grant because 12 percent of its student body opted out of state testing. This is despite the fact that NYC Public Advocate Letitia James sent a letter to families back in April assuring them that failure to participate in state testing would not result in negative consequences for the school or students.

Now that the school, along with 15 others in the district have lost their reward school status, parents are working to reverse that decision. In order to be eligible for reward school status at least 95 percent of the student body must take the state exams.

“I am alarmed that my school isn’t getting the rewards because people chose to opt out because of the tests,” parent Theresa Westerdahl said.

“It’s a shame and it’s very unsettling,” said Tyndall Arrasmith, co-president of the PTA.

“Parents when they opt out, it’s a personal choice,” Letitia James said. “Their schools should not be penalized.”