Lawmakers at the Capitol asked tough questions about a parent-backed bill that would solidify a child’s right to refuse to take some school tests.

One mom said her daughter gets so nervous during the school year that she tugs all her hair out and must wear a wig. Another said parents in her north Fulton County neighborhood are ditching public school for private because of all the classroom time spent on test prep.

But Rep. Tommy Benton, R-Jefferson, said “testing is the only thing that we’ve got to hold the teachers’ and the school systems’ feet to the fire to show that we’re getting results.”

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Wade Roberts (center), a Decatur parent with children in three of the city schools, addresses concerns  with the possibility of a K-2 school closing. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado/For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Rose Scott signals as Closer Look goes on air in the WABE studio. An Atlanta resident left WABE a $3 million donation, a boost after WABE lost $1.9 million in annual funding from the Corporation of Public Broadcasting. (Ben Gray / AJC file)

Credit: Ben Gray