As the most difficult year of our high school draws to a close, the Class of 2023 is plagued with stress-inducing assignments, exams and decisions that directly decide our futures. As the pressure continues to build, we recently found out that another task, this time an assortment of standardized tests, has been added to our already overflowing plates. These tests, titled the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), are to be completed during class time in late March and early April, using three periods of English instruction and additional time in math and science classes. Since 2015, the ability to opt out of SBAC testing has been guaranteed by the Oregon Student Assessment Bill of Rights which states that students who do opt out shall be provided with “supervised study time” while their classmates take the SBAC tests. Unfortunately for the Class of 2023, this “supervised study time” will not be provided by LOSD, as even if a student chooses to opt out of SBAC, they will still be required to complete a local assessment. The new information was not sent out through email, but instead delivered via Synergy’s “messages” function, one that is rarely checked by students. This seems to deliberately deter those who wish to opt out from getting the information they need.

As clearly stated in Section 329.479 of the Student Assessment Bill of Rights, this study time for students not taking SBAC testing is legally protected, which LOSD chooses to ignore. Not only is this decision illegal under Section 329.479, but it also directly harms the junior class as instructional time is already being taken away, so we must be allowed the opportunity to use that time for our own benefit. For example, with Advanced Placement (AP) tests coming up in early May and a great number of juniors taking these exams, this time is essential to prepare for them. In some AP classes such as AP Language and Composition, SBAC testing is directly taking away valuable class time that would otherwise be used to prepare for the exam, so if we choose to opt out of SBAC, we should be able to use that time to prepare for the AP test instead of taking a local assessment to boost the school’s already formidable reputation. With AP tests costing $80 a piece and offering the opportunity to get college credit for passing scores, we should put more emphasis on the exams that directly affect students rather than the ones that keep us seated atop of our academically excellent pedestal.

LOSD claims to prioritize students’ mental health, but their attempts to hide and limit our testing options prove otherwise. It appears that increasing LO’s property values, a benefit of high SBAC scores, is more important than the students who live in these homes. Spring is undeniably the most stressful time for the junior class, and with added standardized testing on top of an already large heap of responsibilities, students are at their wit’s end. Keep in mind that we can only handle so much stress, and the study time meant to be offered during SBAC testing would be beneficial in giving us a chance at catching up on work and taking a much needed moment to breathe, effectively reducing overall stress. 

In order to move past this moment of poor judgment, we make a simple request. That is, allow the Class of 2023 to opt out of SBAC without taking a local assessment. Provide us with the supervised study time that the state of Oregon ensures. If LOSD values its students and their overall well-being, they should take this as an opportunity to prove it. Allow us to take our academic careers into our own hands instead of forcing us to uphold LO’s reputation on our already sore shoulders.