By CRAIG FREILICH and JIMMY LAWTON

MASSENA – Massena Central School had a “handful more" of students today who refused to take the Common Core assessment examination, at about 25 percent of the total.

Out of 1,125 students in third through eighth grades in Massena who were to take the second part of the English test today, 287 students were excused after their parents refused to let them take the test, according to Massena Central School Interim Superintendent William Flynn.

Flynn said that was “a handful more" than those who refused Tuesday, “no more than five more,” he said.

At Ogdensburg schools Tuesday, 13 percent, or about 100 students, did not take the required test.

Also Tuesday, Potsdam, Norwood-Norfolk and Canton Central schools all reported roughly 25 percent of kids who were to take the test did not.

“I was more concerned yesterday when I thought we might be in the minority of school districts across the state that would have scores reflective of less than 95 percent of students, but now I’m less concerned” than if other schools weren’t reporting similar non-participation rates, Flynn said.

Reports from around the state vary in reported participation rates, from 98 percent in Schenectady schools, near Albany, to only about 30 percent in West Seneca, near Buffalo.

Flynn said he understood that there was a freedom of speech issue among parents who wanted to express their dissatisfaction with the Common Core standard and all of the other issues around it, including the student scores being used to evaluate teachers and the tests themselves – “lots of different reasons.”

“The school district’s position is that if the tests aren’t standardized to what is being taught in the classroom, it will not help reform next year,” Flynn said.

“We need the data to determine the appropriateness of our programs and placement of students. It’s good to have the test scores for evaluation and adjusting the curriculum," Flynn said "All that data helps us broaden our view for a more complete understanding of student strengths and weaknesses and the school’s strengths and weaknesses.”

He said the data from the 75 percent taking the exams supports those efforts, but more complete data would be better.

In Massena today, for the second part of the three-part English exam, Flynn reported those refusing to take the test amounted to 114 of 407 students at Leary Junior High, 53 of 253 at Jefferson Elementary, 44 of 232 at Madison Elementary, and 76 of 243 at Nightengale Elementary.

The tests continue next week with the standardized mathematics exams for third- through eighth-graders.

In Ogdensburg Tuesday, Superintendent Timothy Vernsey said about 13 percent of the 748 students did not participate. He said the numbers are significant as only 11 students refused the tests last year.

“It something that started last year more downstate, but crept up into the North Country this year,” he said.

Vernsey said it could have an impact on school funding and teacher assessments as 95 percent participation is required for accountability purposes.

“There is a concern for us. Whether the tests are right or wrong, they serve as an accountability measure for our school, students and teachers. I don’t know exactly what will come of it, but I find it hard to believe the state will punish the schools for this,” he said.