http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2015/08/8574121/after-widespread-protest-schools-can-be-sanctioned-opt-out-figuresby Jimmy Vielkind
August 12, 2015
Of the 1.1 million students eligible to take state exams in math and English language arts exams this year, nearly 20 percent, or 200,000 students, opted out.
The state Education Department is in conversations with the U.S. Department of Education working on a plan regarding possible sanctions for districts with high opt-out rates, Elia said.
In the conference call with reporters, Elia said the sanctions weren’t clearly defined and could simply consist of a phone call to superintendents asking what happened and what they plan to do differently next year. But it's also possible that federal Title I funds will be withheld, she said.
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