Almost half of Oceanside, Island Park students opt-out of math

Almost half of eligible test takers in the Oceanside and Island Park did not take state Math tests last week, according to numbers provided by the school districts.

These rates are very similar to opt-out numbers for the English Language Arts exam earlier this month, when 49.3 percent of Oceanside students, and 46 percent of Island Park students, refused the tests. Parents across Long Island and New York State have opted their children out of state tests due to objections in the Common Core standards that influence the tests, as well as the fact that results are not received until the summer. By that time, students have moved up a grade and cannot receive extra help from their current teacher. For the past four years, opt-outs rates have steadily risen.

Out of the eighth-grade students in Oceanside, 439 did not take the Math exam and will take the Algebra I Regents in June instead because they are in accelerated classes. There are 451 students total in the eighth grade.

Overall, test refusal rates for the Math test have increased since last year, when parents opted out 39 percent of Oceanside students and 37 percent of Island Park students.