Rep. Tom Reed (R-Corning)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY) is joining a bipartisan effort that addresses the recent opt-out movement involving standardized testing.

The Corning Republican – who represents Chautauqua County in Washington – has partnered with Connecticut Democrat Rosa DeLauro in introducing the EMPOWER Act, which stands for Enable More Parents to Opt-Out Without Endangering Resources.

According to Reed, if approved by Congress, the EMPOWER Act would allow parents  to opt-out of annual standardized testing without fear that their local school would see a reduction in school aid.

Currently, when parents opt-out their children from testing, many school districts see their federal funding in jeopardy. This has resulted in a districts and parents at odds over whether or not a child should take the exam. Under Reed’s proposed law, the districts that have a low participation rate in the standardized tests would still be held harmless when it comes to receiving school aid.

The legislation has received support from both the National Education Association (NEA) and the New York State Teachers Union (NYSTU).