Parental test refusal right approved by Georgia Senate

The Georgia Senate approved legislation that guarantees parents’ right to refuse testing for their children in school.

Prior to Monday's 39-9 vote, the state Department of Education said in a committee hearing that parents already could refuse testing for their children. Senate Bill 355 by William T. Ligon, Jr., R-Brunswick, clarifies that right.

Ligon originally used the bill to target the use of tests in teacher evaluations, but he deleted that part and scaled back the bill because Senate Bill 364 already addressed teacher evaluations. The Senate passed SB 364 by unanimous vote Friday. Both must still get through the state House of Representatives to become law.