The 999 Code: A Geographic Analysis of Opting-Out Behavior in New York

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session 35
  In Roundtable Session: Policy and People: Exploring the Use of Organizing and Activism in Education Policy

Abstract

In 2015, New York became the state with the most visible opt-out social movement, formed in opposition to standardized assessments. Many parents/guardians decided that their children should not spend time taking tests that they viewed as having little association with the classroom curricula. As the opt-out movement has continued to grow throughout the United States, we are interested in determining if a connection exists between geography and the opting-out phenomenon. This study analyzes the opting-out behavior in New York and explores which factors impact opt-out behavior. Through this study, we found a strong correlation between high opt-out levels and high proportions of White students and students of high socioeconomic status, and areas of high population density.

Authors

• Kathryn P. Chapman, Arizona State University - Tempe

• Lydia Ross, Arizona State University - Tempe

• Sherman Dorn, Arizona State University