VIDALIA — Despite the option to opt-out of testing related to the Common Core education standards in some areas, the vast majority of Concordia Parish students showed up for their assessments last week.

Parish students in third through eighth grade took the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) tests last week, a key component in the Common Core curriculum and standards.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal signed an executive order earlier this year that allowed parents to opt-out their children from PARCC testing, writing in the order that, “increasing numbers of Louisiana parents, teachers, and school districts are voicing concerns over Common Core and PARCC testing, and parents are exploring alternatives that are in the best interest of their children.”

In Concordia Parish, however, Superintendent Paul Nelson said he knew of only two opt-outs, one at Monterey High School and one at Vidalia Upper Elementary.

“It certainly wasn’t anything overwhelming, but it wasn’t good because you never want to take zeros,” Nelson said. “That is something you always work to avoid.”

Nelson said while the governor’s order allowed parents to opt their students out of testing, it did not address how schools would be assessed based on those opt-outs.

“There is not an accountability code from the state for a kid who opts out,” he said. “We have to turn it in as an unused test document, and the state will assign a zero for that.”

Nelson said most of the parish teachers were very positive about the test, the format and the questions.

Students were tested on English-language arts and reading Monday through Wednesday and on math Thursday and Friday.

“The testing periods each day were shorter than they have been in the past,” he said. “We did 60-75 minutes of testing every day rather than three hours. The longer period tends to put stress on the kids and teachers when it goes on and on.”

Schools in Calcasieu Parish made statewide news after nearly 13 percent of students opted out of PARCC testing.

The Common Core standards are a non-governmental effort sponsored by the National Governor’s Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers to ensure students across the country receive the same education no matter where they live.

The effort has received support from some key federal policymakers — including President Obama — leading critics to conclude it is a backdoor effort by the federal government to further control education standards.