NIXON, Texas -- Angela Biddle got fed up.

Her son came home from school one day with a note that said if he didn't attend state-mandated tutorial sessions for the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test, charges would be filed.

Instead of sending her son to tutorial sessions, Biddle pulled him out of the Nixon-Smiley Independent School District and decided he would be educated at home.

Biddle is among a handful of parents who rebelled against the controversial test that determines whether students will advance to the next grade or graduate from high school.

"Every child deserves a good education," Biddle said. "And they're not getting it because the state of Texas won't allow it, because of the TAKS test."

Sandy Willis is another parent who is protesting the TAKS test by pulling her child out of Nixon-Smiley schools.

"We pulled him out was because he said he just was bored," Willis said. "He wasn't learning anything."

Cathy Booth, Nixon-Smiley ISD Superintendent, said the district has no choice but to prepare and give the test, which she said measures needed educational skills.

"Kids need to know how to add, subtract, multiply, divide," Booth said. "Whether they're doing it for the TAKS test or not. So we are still educating children."

But Booth said she does sympathize with parents who think the test puts too much pressure on kids, teachers and schools.

Booth also has a message for Texas lawmakers.

"Please, the test is fine, give it back to me," Booth said. "Let me use it to drive instruction, instead of punish kids and punish schools."