Illinois House Passes Bill Allowing Parents To Opt-Out Children From PARCC Test
(CBS) -- Parents unhappy about the PARCC test are one step closer to a formal process for opting their children out of it now that the Illinois House has approved a bill.
Wendy Katten, director of the parent group Raise Your Hand, says the 64-47 vote was validation for months of hard work and a sign that lawmakers listened to parents.
"This is just a way for those parents who don't think that their kids should take the test to have to have the right," said Wendy Katten, director of Raise Your Hand. "It really shouldn't require a bill."
The vote did not break along strict party lines, something Katten attributes to widespread support.
House Bill 306 does not get rid of the test that critics say was not ready to be used and takes up too much instructional time.
Even if the senate approves the measure, Governor Rauner has pledged to veto it.
And it did not get a veto-proof 71 votes in the House.
Rauner's administration says this bill is the wrong way to address concerns about standardized testing and puts one billion dollars federal money at risk.