Middle schooler suspended for telling classmates they can opt out of standardized tests

New Mexico eighth grader Adelina Silva was giving her classmates forms from her school's website when she was stopped by a teacher and marched to the principal's office to be suspended. The forms in question were the problem: They were permission slips students could have their parents sign to allow them to opt out of an upcoming standardized test.

While the school district insists that it supports the right to opt out, teachers were allegedly told by the state's Public Education Department that they aren't allowed to criticize the tests.

As for Adelina Silva, her mom is fighting the suspension. "She did absolutely nothing wrong and yet they are making her feel like she did," Silva's mother said. The 12-year-old is upset that she missed class time and says she would hand the forms out again if given the chance.

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