New Yorkers United for Kids

to your child's teacher about skipping test preparation lessons

Parents across Australia are uneasy about how much classroom time gets swallowed up by drilling for high-stakes tests. From the long-running NAPLAN debate, families in cities and regional towns wonder whether their kids spend too many weeks revising sample questions instead of learning for the joy of it.

In NSW and Queensland, schools receive explicit guidance about preparing students for standardised assessments, and teachers often feel bound by departmental expectations. In Victoria and Tasmania, where state curricula shape the daily programme but testing is national, teachers sometimes have more wriggle room — yet they still worry about results published on My School.

The way you ask matters as much as what you ask. A respectful conversation is far more likely to yield a useful answer than a combative email cc'd to the principal, and approaching the topic as a partner keeps the door open.

What follows is a practical guide shaped by American advocacy groups supporting families under the Common Core regime. The tactics transfer well to an Aussie context.

Knowing what the school actually requires

Before approaching the teacher, separate mandated assessment preparation from optional revision routines. In most Australian schools, NAPLAN preparation is not formally compulsory, but schools often schedule "revision blocks" in the lead-up, and teachers may set homework pulled from commercial NAPLAN-style books.

Check the school website for a published curriculum overview, or ask the front office for the assessment policy. State departments in WA, SA, and Tasmania publish frameworks online showing which outcomes a teacher must teach. If it isn't mentioned, the teacher may have more flexibility than you think. American commentary on state testing policy shows how opaque these policies can be even within a single district.

Choosing the right moment

Car park chats at 3:15 pm are not the place for this conversation. Teachers are tired, watching a class stream past and matching faces to names, and quick words before assembly are too public and too rushed.

Book a proper parent-teacher interview, or ask for a brief after-school meeting. Many schools use Sentral or Compass for bookings, and you can request a fifteen-minute slot labelled "parent concern." That signals seriousness without putting the teacher on the defensive.

Phrasing the question without sounding adversarial

Avoid opening with "Why are you teaching to the test?" — it puts the teacher on the back foot. Try instead, "I've noticed a lot of NAPLAN-style work coming home. I wanted to check how flexible the schedule is around test preparation."

You signal three things: that you are paying attention, that you understand the teacher has constraints, and that you are asking rather than demanding. Teachers who feel respected are far more willing to share the internal politics of the school.

If you want to broaden the conversation, mention data-sharing concerns. American opt-out groups have raised pointed questions about student data flowing to outside bodies, as shown in coverage of foundation influence on schools. Similar scrutiny is starting to appear in Australian discussions about NAPLAN data.

When the teacher says the prep is non-negotiable

Sometimes you will hear the school requires a set number of weeks of preparation. That's a valid answer, and it tells you the decision sits above the individual teacher. Thank them for being honest, and ask whether your child can be excused from optional practice while still sitting the formal assessment.

Most Australian schools let you withdraw your child from NAPLAN entirely, though the paperwork varies by state. Keep any agreement in writing and follow up by email to confirm what was discussed. That paper trail protects both you and the teacher.

Knowing the formal opt-out pathway

If the conversation confirms that the school will continue with test preparation no matter what, you still have options. Australian parents can withdraw their child from NAPLAN, and the process is usually straightforward even if the paperwork looks intimidating.

Write a brief letter or complete the school's form, stating that your child will not sit the assessment. Some schools ask for a reason, but you are not obliged to give one. Keep a copy, send it by email so you have a timestamp, and confirm that your child will be given alternative work during the testing window.

Joining a local parents' group, through the P&C or an informal Facebook collective, gives you access to template letters and moral support when the school pushes back.

Building a longer-term partnership

A single conversation is a starting point, not the finish line. Once you have shown you care about balance, the teacher is more likely to come to you when scheduling decisions are made. You might offer to help in the classroom or source alternative materials covering the same curriculum outcomes.

Over time, this kind of relationship gives you informal influence over how the classroom runs, and it matters more than any single email to the principal because it keeps the conversation grounded in your specific child.

Practical ways to frame the conversation

What stays with you from all of this is that teachers in Australia, like their counterparts in New York, are usually navigating systems they did not design. Going in with curiosity rather than complaint gives them room to be honest, and that honesty is what lets you make informed choices for your child.

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