Survey Finds Online Students Opt-Out of State Assessments Due to Testing Center Obligations and Anxiety, Rather than Data Collection Concerns

Families of online students more likely to participate in state assessments with an online option.

DENVER (April 26, 2023) – The Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families (CCCF) has released the results of a survey of Colorado families with children attending online schools to understand why they are opting out of state assessments, and what solutions may be available to encourage greater participation.

Online students typically have opted out at higher rates than traditional public-school students. In fact, in 2022, 88% of students participated in state assessments, while only 35% of online students participated. This has resulted in low participation numbers that have helped to fuel the incorrect narrative that online schools are not equivalent to traditional schools due to lower performance ratings.

The survey found that 68% of respondents have opted their students out of state assessments in the past, citing not living near a testing location (25.25%) and the inability to travel to a testing location (30.61%) as very important in their decision. Also, 40% of respondents said the anxiety their student experiences around state testing was very important in their decision. Data collection is not a concern to parents, with 71.26% saying it was not important or they had no opinion about student data collection.

According to the survey, 69.31% said they planned to opt their child out of state assessments again this year, despite knowing that low participation can impact their school and district performance ratings. However, a majority of respondents (71.29%) said they would be more inclined to have their student take the state assessment if administered online through a secure platform, rather than a testing location.

In response to these findings, CCCF is supports the development of an online option for state assessments, which would allow families to avoid the travel necessary to testing centers and provide a more comfortable testing environment for their children.

"The results of this survey highlight the need for greater flexibility and options in the state assessment process for families with children attending online schools. Students who attend traditional schools can take the tests in their normal learning environment. Families whose students attend school online from their homes would like the same opportunity," said Tillie Elvrum, CCCF Board President." We urge policymakers to consider the needs of these families and explore the feasibility of an online option for state assessments."

View the full report at www.coloradocyberfamilies.org/report.

About the Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families
The Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families is a group of committed parents who have united to be powerful and vocal advocates for cyberschools and online learning in Colorado. The coalition believes that all children should have free and equal access to public online schools without restrictions. For additional information on CCCF, please visit www.coloradocyberfamilies.org.

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