US parents refuse to let their 550 kids take test

A testing protest by parents in one western Washington school district isn\'t likely to affect the state budget, but the parents feel they got their message out that statewide academic testing is a waste of money. An organized group in the Snohomish School District kept 550 students from taking the statewide Measurements of Student Progress this past week, the Everett Herald reported. The students who didn\'t take their exams represented about 12 percent of the 4,501 students between third and eighth grade required to take the test in Snohomish. Last year, just 12 students missed the standardized tests in that district. State education officials told The Associated Press the students won\'t be punished for refusing to take their reading, writing, math or science exams.