Parents who have fought school districts in court so their third-graders could advance to the fourth grade without taking a standardized test got a major setback in court. 

On Tuesday, a Florida appeals court reversed a previous ruling that required school districts to consider other measures of student performance instead of just a reading test.

Gabi Weaver says she fights standardized testing for her kids.

“Throughout their lives you want to make sure they have everything they need,” said Weaver, a Seminole County parent.

Weaver says she doesn’t believe the reading test third-graders are required to take measures their true knowledge, or helps them learn.

“After the children have taken them, no one has been able to see right or wrong questions, or help them improve after that,” said Weaver.

Weaver and other parents across the state sued their respective school districts after school administrators wouldn’t let their children advance to the fourth grade after the students opted out of the required reading test.

Last August, the parents scored a victory in court when a judge ruled school districts must also consider other measures of learning – like classroom grades – before holding a student back.  The Florida appeals court ruling reversed that decision.

“Just made me lose hope in the system completely,” said Weaver.

But Weaver says she won’t give up fighting for what she believes is best for her kids. Earlier this school year, she pulled her daughter out of Seminole County Public Schools after she was required to repeat the third grade. 

Camryn is now at a private school, where she is in the fourth grade. Weaver has two younger children who will eventually reach the third grade.

“It’s unclear at this point what we’re going to do,” said Weaver. “I can’t speak personally because I’m still very frustrated with the outcome even though I saw it coming.”

The appeals court decision will stand unless challenged in a higher court. Weaver says she and other parents who lost in court will likely need to get legislators to change Florida laws in order to see the changes they want.

“Just try to rally everyone together and get a legislator to write something that would better benefit our kids,” said Weaver.