Student Who Opted Out of Test Made to Stare into Space

Sixth-grader Sam Morgan is 11 years old. On the first day of PARCC testing at Highland Middle School in Libertyville, he opted out of the test. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the student, who is allowed by law to have extra time to complete certain tasks such as standardized tests, then had to sit and do nothing for 160 minutes.

“He couldn’t read, draw or do anything for at least two hours and 40 minutes, double the time of the 80-minute math test,” The Tribune states.

Superintendent Fred Heid, of the Algonquin-based Community Unit School District 300 told the Tribune why the student was not allowed to draw or use a cell phone while testing.

“That student “could take a scrap paper and copy down 10 (test) questions,” and then pass them along to other students,” he told the Tribune. “Likewise, a student who gets a hold of a cellphone — though such a device is prohibited while testing — could take pictures of test questions.”

Although Morgan was the only sixth grader at his school to opt out, other schools, such as students in Arlington Heights’ John Hersey High School, had many more students opt out.