A lot of attention has been focused on the growing number of parents opting their children out of standardized testing in public schools. The opt out movement began in New York and the west coast, but is now surfacing in Georgia.

Who are these parents?

A new survey by researchers from Teachers College, Columbia University tackled that question, discovering through national surveys of opt out groups that, “The typical opt out activist is a highly educated, white, married, politically liberal parent whose children attend public school and whose household median income is well above the national average.”

And it is not just testing that drives activists: The survey showed, “In particular, respondents feel that judging teacher performance by students’ standardized test scores is unfair. They also are protesting the narrowing of the curriculum, corporatization/privatization of education, and the implementation of the Common Core State Standards.”

To read more, go to the AJC Get Schooled blog.

About the Author

Keep Reading

The board of education for the City Schools of Decatur  is considering closing a K-2 primary school. The board plans to seek community input on redistricting plans and will vote on Dec. 9.  (Natrice Miller/ AJC)

Featured

Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com