Jessica Bakeman is reporting at Capital New York state education officials appear to have some discretion over whether districts or schools lose federal funding because of the boycott of standardized testing this month. State officials had previously suggested the matter was out of their hands. Representatives for the U.S. Department of Education and the state Education Department have said the federal government could withhold funds if fewer than 95 percent of students in an individual school or district take the tests. But public statements and regulatory guidance from both the U.S. and state education departments suggest the decision is not totally up to the feds. State Board of Regents chancellor Merryl Tisch said Tue., Apr. 21, federal officials are now indicating the state has discretion in the matter. “If we do have discretion, we intend to use it,” she said. Tisch has said she hopes students won’t be punished for a disagreement among adults, attributing the so-called “opt out” movement to the fight between the state and teachers’ unions over controversial performance evaluations. According to unofficial totals compiled by parents, more than 100,000 children refused state English language art tests last week. Read the full story at Capital New York.