School Backs Off Policy Of Prohibiting Sports To Students Who Skip Test

April 30, 2013 /
The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/wilson-rescinds-policy-of-prohibiting-sports-for-those-who-skip-dc-test/2013/04/29/ce28fa40-b0e3-11e2-bbf2-a6f9e9d79e19_story.html?tid=pm_local_pop

Wilson High School’s principal, who told parents that students could lose their eligibility to play school sports if they failed to show up for the District’s annual standardized testing, has rescinded the policy.

Principal Peter Cahall notified parents in an e-mail Friday that he had decided to reverse course, ending a policy that was intended to encourage participation in the D.C. Comprehensive Assessment System, or DC CAS. Cahall said that tying the test to athletic eligibility was “not in line with the District of Columbia Public Schools.”

“Please understand that my intent was not to be punitive but to ensure that our school community met the requirement for schools to have at least a 95% participation rate,” the principal wrote to parents. “I apologize for any confusion or [undue] stress that this error has caused any of my scholars or parents.”

Schools are required to ensure that 95 percent of eligible students take the annual test under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Failure to reach that rate can result in sanctions.

Cahall added that although the city’s tests have no bearing on students’ futures, they can carry important consequences for staff members, whose jobs depend on raising test scores. The sports policy was intended to “protect the reputation of our school community and the people who serve our school,” he wrote.

Cahall did not immediately return a message from The Washington Post on Monday seeking comment.


Leave a Reply