Williamson school board member wants state social studies test cut

Citing religious concerns, Williamson County school board member Susan Curlee has started a petition to cut state social studies exams for middle school students.

The petition asks state education commissioner Candice McQueen to remove state social studies tests for grades 6-7, the same grades where students learn about major world religions, including Islam. There's been recent statewide concern about how Islam is taught in schools, including claims of Islamic indoctrination and biased textbooks and materials used in class.

"This is about protecting religious liberties of children and families, a right guaranteed in the constitution," Curlee wrote in an email.

Curlee's petition says test questions on religion may conflict with a student's beliefs. The petition also says a "major portion" of the seventh grade state social studies test centers on religion, and that the exam is a big part of a student's final grade.

"If last year's test was any indication, the state exam will contain questions likely to conflict with a child's religious beliefs," the petition says. "If a child fails to answer even one question they personally find offensive or contradictory to their religious beliefs, or lack thereof, it will have an immediate negative impact on both the test score and final course grade."

State Department of Education spokeswoman Ashley Ball said that portion of the petition "is inaccurate."

"Please note that because early indicators of student scores will likely be delayed this year, districts do not have to include state-required test scores in a student’s grade this year," Ball said by email.

Students took a no-stakes field test of the state social studies exam last year. In 2016 students will take TNReady, an improved, and this time operational, version of the state social studies exam.

State law requires school districts to include student performance on state-required tests in final grades. But since next year's test is new, districts will likely have the option to not link test performance to student grades.

"Because this is the first year of a new assessment, we anticipate that early indicators of student performance will be delayed; this will allow districts the option to choose if they want to include student performance on state-required assessments in final grades," Ball said.

Ball wrote the state can not release the exam questions because many of them will be reused in next year's test.

Curlee wrote that she started the petition based on her experiences as a parent.

Curlee's daughter was in seventh grade last year. Curlee wrote in an email that she raised concerns about assignments from her daughter's social studies classes. The assignments had a heavier emphasis on religion than expected, Curlee wrote.

"We were informed other assignments we voiced concerns over would also be on the test. Multiple times, the teacher stressed she had to cover what was going to be on the test," Curlee wrote.

Curlee also wrote she's concerned about the lack of parental review of supplemental materials used in class.

Tennessee students learn about major world religions in the context of world history in sixth and seventh grades. Students learn about the rise, spread and impact of the Islamic civilization in seventh grade.

"World religions are an intricate part of the fabric of world history. All social standards related to religions should be taught in a historical context," Ball wrote in an email. "Therefore, any test questions involving world religion should measure a student’s knowledge of world religions in the context of world history."

Next year's state social studies test will be based on social studies standards implemented during the 2014-15 school year. The state's social studies exams test students in grades 3-8.

Curlee isn't the only school board member concerned with Islam in schools.

Williamson County school board member Beth Burgos introduced a resolution last month in response to Islam concerns. Her resolution wanted to bolster public review of tests and other class materials for religious bias. Burgos' resolution also said students should not be tested on religious knowledge on state assessments.

Burgos' later pulled her resolution.

Though not related to religious concerns, Williamson County board member P.J. Mezera recently introduced a resolution to exempt Williamson County students in grades K-8 from taking state social studies tests. Mezera said he wanted to provide relief from high-stakes testing. The board tabled the resolution in favor of organizing a town hall for all test stakeholders.

The state board of education will review social studies standards in January.

Reach Melanie Balakit at 615-926-1638 and on Twitter @MelanieBalakit.

This story has been updated to clarify what portions of the petition the state Department of Education found inaccurate. Curlee’s petition states that if a “child fails to answer even one question they personally find offensive or contradictory to their religious beliefs, or lack thereof, it will have an immediate negative impact on both the test score and final course grade.” According to Department of Education spokeswoman Ashley Ball, the state considers that statement inaccurate. Ball said that “because early indicators of student scores will likely be delayed this year, districts do not have to include state-required test scores in a student’s grade this year.”