“This spring, there was an increase in the number of parents who opted out of having their children take English language arts and math standardized tests. While it is a parent’s right to choose to do so, essential federal Title I education funding is tied to these tests.

“This federal funding provides financial assistance to schools that serve the most disadvantaged and low-income populations. Although there has been no direct indication that the U.S. Department of Education seeks to withhold these funds from New York, such withholding would be detrimental to the educational opportunities of students across the state, and especially to our most vulnerable. That’s why I helped pass a resolution (K.523) urging the U.S. Department of Education to continue providing vital funding for our schools and not penalize students.”