By JIMMY LAWTON and CRAIG FREILICH

Some school districts in St. Lawrence County such as Potsdam, Norwood-Norfolk and Canton Central are reporting that roughly a quarter of students who were to start Common Core assessment exams today are not participating.

In Ogdensburg, the reported non-participation rate is 13 percent.

Third- through eighth-graders in public schools are taking the state's English Language Arts exam this week before the math exam next week.

At Norwood-Norfolk Central School, 26 percent, more than one-quarter of the kids scheduled to take the Common Core assessment tests, won’t be doing so.

Superintendent Jamie Cruickshank said 122 of the 471 third- through eighth-grade students who were to take the tests have refused to sit for this week’s English Language Arts tests.

“It concerns me greatly,” Cruickshank said. “Standardized testing has a serious purpose,” he said. The tests are “used for diagnostics, such as review of programs, to see if there are gaps in the curriculum,” and to provide children with analysis of how they’re doing.

Some opt-out advocates in the state including NYS Allies for Public Education predict about 200,000 children out of about a million statewide will not take part in the assessments.

In three days of English Language Arts tests this week, students will have to read and prove they understand texts and write essays and answer multiple-choice questions. The students taking the math exams next week will have to use several steps to get the correct answers and in some cases write out how they solved a problem.

But a flawed Common Core rollout, higher demands on students, and controversy over state aid to schools have all fed discontent among parents, teachers and school officials.

In Ogdensburg 100 kids have opted out of the Common Core tests that began today.

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.

In Potsdam, 153 of about 580 third- through eighth-graders, or 26 percent, refused to take the exam, according to Superintendent Pat Brady.

Those who refused were given “an alternate assignment is a separate location, another assessment where the student can take a test that will help to gauge the progress of the student and the quality of the program.

“The fact that we have 153 compared with 27 last year is the result of the turmoil that surrounds the implementation of Common Core and other reform movements going on in Albany,” Brady said.

He said that letters and media reports he has seen reflect “a sense of powerlessness among parents in regard to these reforms” and that refusing to let their children take the assessment tests “gives them a chance to exercise some authority.”

Over three quarters of Canton Central students in Grades 3-8 participated in taking the New York State English Language Arts assessment this morning, according to Canton Central School Superintendent William Gregory.

“Parents of 135 of our 573 eligible students requested that their children not take the assessments which are mandated as part of all New York schools’ comprehensive educational programs,” he said in a statement to the press today.

“These requests were nevertheless honored, with those students being provided an alternate educational activity.”

“This level of refusing to take the tests compromises our ability to address curriculum issues and student needs,” Norwood-Norfolk’s Cruikshank said.

He said he was also a bit concerned about the response to the testing that showed itself this morning.

“I’m speculating, but it appears there has been more of social push today.” While earlier “opt-out” letters from parents were more issue-oriented in their protest of the tests, today he said he was hearing reasons such as “My buddy isn’t taking the test so I’m not going to.”

Cruickshank said the relatively low number of students taking the test could amount to “a third strike” against the district, which is already designated by state education authorities as a “focus district” after previous assessments showed deficiencies in student achievement and graduation rates.

“The problem with graduation rates has been corrected, but we have been mandated to reach 95 percent of students and we’re facing 74 percent. This will undoubtedly affect our standing in New York State. By not meeting the 95 percent requirement we could be getting another strike against us.”

What that will mean for the district is not clear, Cruickshank said.

“The state Education Department might have a response to these opt-outs, but we don’t know how they would respond.

“And it’s a concern for us because we use these tests” themselves for evaluations.

He said the use of the tests for teacher evaluations has only complicated the issue.

He is urging parents who are concerned to speak with principals to get their questions answered.

“I support the tests, but I also support the right of civil disobedience,” he said.

There are reasons for the discontent showing itself as “civil disobedience.”

Ogdensburg’s Vernsey said he was not impressed with the rollout of Common Core, particularly last year when the tests were given before teachers were adequately prepare to teach for them. However he said this year was better and he expects that trend will continue as the state hears feedback and makes appropriate adjustments.

Vernsey said his district will not debate a parents’ right to make choices for their children’s education, but said he has grandchildren who will be participating in the tests.

“I don’t think we are doing mental health harm to kids by giving these tests. We are not promoting opting out. There is no provision for opting out, but we can’t force them to take it either,” he said.

Versney said the district will respect the wishes of students’ parents as far as the testing is concerned.

Potsdam’s Brady said local school officials have “education law and commissioner’s regulations to follow. We understand that parents have the right to ask students to opt out. The hope is that as it goes on, the issue will sort itself out over time.”

Brady said he has been given any indication that there would be official repercussions after so many students have opted out of the assessment tests.

“There is no clear understanding about any loss” of state or federal school funding, he said.

Brady said the 95 percent testing rate goes back in federal Race to the Top regulations and to the No Child Left Behind federal initiative before that.

“That rate was to insure that they were testing everybody, to make sure they were not leaving any groups out.”

One possible effect of not achieving a 95 percent or more participation rate for three years running could be the imposition of a “local assistance plan” devised by authorities outside of the district. Another possible effect is downgrading of the school’s “report card when achievement is gauged against other schools in the state. That could lead to a lower achievement level and a local assistance plan” based on incomplete results.

“But the ability to improve the participation rate is out of the hands of a school districts,” Brady said.

And he is concerned that the district might not be able to inform teachers, parents and students with accurate information, “and it’s part of the teacher evaluation. It’s unclear how the low participation will affect teacher and principal evaluations.

“On the other hand, 74 percent are sitting for these test this week and next.”