Science Teacher 7:07 1/13....I agree whole heartedly!

The CRT tests are given earlier in the month of May because NCLB demands that 95% of the students take the tests. It takes many, many days of effort on the part of many school personnel, to find the students who CHOOSE not to attend school, or CHOOSE to go on vacation with their parents, or are otherwise unavailable to take their tests.
If only parents would have their students in school, everyday, then time wouldn't be wasted searching for them, or testing them while other students waited, or re-teaching them what they would have learned had they been there. Other students time wouldn't be wasted because the entire class could move on.

This is a community issue, we are all part of the community. Teachers, Administrators, Parents, and STUDENTS. We all need to be willing to work together, and when one part is not pulling its weight, it makes every other part far less effective.