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hvparent.com n Hudson Valley Parent 23 LaGrange 2016 Programs for ages 5-16 37 Exciting Camps to Choose From! Register online at www.lagrangesummercamps.com or call Jill at 845-463-4800 LaGrange Summer Camps at Gold's Gym, 258 Titusville Road be held to sanctions, everything from a conversation with a superintendent to withholding federal funds. The threat of sanctions means districts take individual approaches with parents asking to opt out. As an example, the Saugerties Central School District was subject of paren- tal scorn in April 2015 for an online post by Superintendent Seth Turner titled "Think Test Refusal Doesn't Harm Anything?" Kahn said in her district, Kings- ton, parents were asked to meet with school principals, who would attempt to convince parents to let their child take the tests. In Middle- town, Eastwood says he chooses to be frank with parents. "I said I was not going to use this data to make any critical decisions about your child," Eastwood says. "I've always been 'Don't worry about it. It's a state mandate; we have to administer it.'" Parents in Middletown have to formally request to opt out. Parents seeking advice on opting out should consult parents and school leaders to understand their district's approach. "There are some districts that are cooperative," says Shah, who had written to Turner in Saugerties and, in her advocacy, has worked with parents living in a number of districts. "Many of them are getting a great deal of push back from the state education department." Editor's Note: Governor Cuomo appointed a commission to investi- gate flaws in Common Core, with a report expected in January, just before the governor's State of the State address. The state Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment on this story. Timothy Malcom is a freelance writer for Hudson Valley Parent magazine. Poughkeepsie parent Anna Shah, who is in favor of opt- ing out, doesn't want her child in a test-prep culture. Ask about our new customer special discounts VITEK Plumbing, Inc. 845-219-7887 Value. Integrity. Trust. Experience. Knowledge. Since 1901 LEAKY FAUCET? We know what it's like when you fi nally get the kids to bed and everything is silent... except that leaky faucet that's driving you nuts! Call us and we will have your leaky faucet fi xed in no time fl at.