DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The DeKalb County School District has changed its testing schedule after concern over conflicts with Jewish holidays.
The district originally scheduled the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills for Sept. 9-25. The test is used to identify gifted students.
The Jewish high holidays Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur both occur during this time period. Jews will observe the holidays on Sept. 14, 15 and 23.
A group of parents wrote a letter to the district expressing their concern saying, “If the school district maintains this schedule, it will pressure Jewish families to violate their religious tenets so that their children can have the best chance to qualify for gifted and other special programs.”
It is estimated that Jewish students make up 10 percent of Dunwoody and Montgomery Elementary schools. Concerned parents also have children at Vanderlyn, Austin, Chesnut, Peachtree Middle and other DeKalb schools.
DeKalb Schools released a statement saying they have changed the testing schedule to remove all potential conflicts with religious observances.
The Iowa Test of Basic Skills will now be taken Sept. 9, 10, 11, 16,18 and 21. Make-up tests will be Sept. 22, 23, 24 and 25. The Cognitive Abilities Test will be Oct. 5, 6 and 7 with a make-up day on Oct. 8.
“The revised school testing calendar removes all conflicts with religious holidays while ensuring timely testing for students,” Superintendent Stephen Green said. “We have been responsive to concerns that have been raised and we have sought and arrived at a solution that is in the best interest of our children.”
WSBTV
