BRUNSWICK

Parents of 196 Brunswick students had their children opt out of the Maine Education Assessment standardized test this year, likely because they believe their children are being overly tested, according to the school district’s superintendent.

That number means Brunswick schools fall below the mandated 95 percent participation rate, according to Superintendent Paul Perzanoski.

This was the first and likely the last year of the Smarter Balance Assessment, after a legislative committee decided to replace the test in May.

Brunswick participated in a pilot program for Smarter Balance last year in order to acclimate to the test done on computers. Perzanoski said 198 students did not participate then.

Perzanoski noted that Brunswick has usually been considered the “opt-out capital of Maine,” however, the district isn’t alone when it comes to discontent over assessments.

The Bangor Daily News reported in March that more than half of juniors at Camden Hills Regional High School opted out of this year’s MEA.

About 40 percent of Sanford High School juniors opted out, according to the Sanford News.

This year, 70 Brunswick High School juniors — 36 percent of the class — did not take the test.

In a statement issued last month, Acting Education Commissioner Tom Desjardin warned that schools could lose federal funding as a consequence of lack of participation in the assessment. Schools facing such consequences could potentially deny diplomas to students who do not take part in statewide assessments.

“Local school districts in Maine have the authority under state law to place requirements on students and not award a diploma if the student does not meet these requirements,” Desjardin wrote. “This could include things such as community service, a senior year graduation exam, or participation in statewide or local assessments.”

Brunswick schools won’t face consequences for failing to meet the 95 percent threshold this year, said Perzanoski, because the Smarter Balance exam was in its “maiden year” and without a baseline for comparison.

Next year may be a different story, Perzanoski told the school board. The state could deem Brunswick has failing schools, and force the district to develop a school improvement plan, should it continue to fail to reach the 95 percent threshold.

If the goals under that plan are not met, there may be more severe consequences, including “replacement of staff,” said Perzanoski.

Many legislators, including Rep. Sara Gideon, DFreeport, appear more sympathetic to parents’ concerns over assessments, however. Earlier this week, a heavily amended version of LD 695, sponsored by Gideon, clarifying the rights of parents who want their children to opt-out, won initial approval in the Senate.

“We know there are parents out there who feel we are testing kids too much,” Perzanoski told the school board.

He later added: “We’re hearing we are testing too much, that it’s not going to help my child in any way, and I don’t want them to take part in it.”

Speaking with reporters, Perzanoski said he wasn’t worried about the high rate of parents who do not want their children participating in the MEA.

“From my perspective, I think they have a right to be able to express that. What happens because of that is anybody’s guess,” said Perzanoski, noting a nationwide trend that sees parents bucking against Common Core-based assessments.

Not counting the SATs, there were eight state, district and national assessments administered in Brunswick schools in 2014- 15.

Brunswick parents are particularly irked by the number of days their children spend on the tests, said school board member Sarah Singer

School Board Vice Chairwoman Joy Prescott said that MEA testing “wiped out an entire week” of school for her child.

jswinconeck@timesrecord.com

State says …

IN A STATEMENT, Acting Education Commissioner Tom Desjardin warned that schools could lose federal funding as a consequence of lack of participation in the assessment.

“Local school districts in Maine have the authority under state law to place requirements on students and not award a diploma if the student does not meet these requirements,” Desjardin wrote. “This could include things such as community service, a senior year graduation exam, or participation in statewide or local assessments.”