Advocates want families to know: Colorado children don’t have to take in-person English proficiency tests
A fact sheet from the state education department notes that, “Negative consequences on students or families will not be imposed if children do not participate in the ACCESS tests.”
“The messaging is ambiguous,” said Soltero-Gonzalez, an assistant professor for the University of Colorado Denver, and a board member of Colorado Association for Bilingual Education. “All parents have the right to decide not to send their child or have the right to opt out of the test if they fear that taking the test would impose a higher risk of contracting the virus.”
In Colorado, the virus has disproportionately hit the Hispanic population, which makes up the largest portion of English learners.
Districts still feel the pressure to try to test students.