State senator Democrat Howie Morales from southwest New Mexico wants Attorney General Hector Balderas to weigh in on whether parents can legally opt out their children from taking an upcoming standardized test.
Morales of Silver City says parents have a fundamental right to direct the education of their children and that includes whether they take assessments developed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC.
Morales sent a letter to Balderas on Thursday, asking for a formal opinion.
Balderas' office is reviewing the request.
Testing will begin for some students next week, while others will start taking the exams later in the month.
Morales says there's confusion because some school districts are telling parents they don't have a right for their children to opt out.
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