Seattle teachers are revolting against standardized tests as way to limit standardized testing in public schools.

The boycott that began back in January has attracted national attention as the public school teachers in Seattle are joined by educators and students elsewhere. The teachers have been protesting the multiple-choice Measures of Academic Progress test, known as simply MAP in Seattle.

These standardized tests have become a very prominent role in public education system over the past decade.

Annual testing in reading and math became required under former President George W. Bush's 2002 landmark "No Child Left Behind" that is expose the achievement gap that seems to appear along racial and economic lines, raising questions how well the tests are actually preparing students.

It seems the boycott is coming at the right time as although Obama administration supports regular testing but has signaled some flexibility.

"Should you assess kids every year? Yes," Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said recently. He added he was "more than sympathetic" about the growing concerns of over-testing as some school districts run standardized tests multiple times each year.

"There's a common-sense middle ground," Duncan said.

The teachers at Garfield High School are boycotting the MAP stating that the computerized exam does not match with the state's curriculum and produces "meaningless results."

"This MAP test is leading (us) on a journey toward failure.  It's leading us on a journey of conflict of interest and ethics violations," said Garfield High School teacher Jesse Hagopain.

The teachers who are participating in the revolt that did not give the test by February 28 could face disciplinary action, said Clover Codd, a top official with the Seattle School District.

"We hear their concerns, we want to work with them, but we need to do what's right for our children," Codd said. "There may be two rights here."

The boycott has received the support of some high-profile education groups such as New York University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Texas at Austin, and Chicago Public Schools. However the support is not universal as Michelle Rhee, the former chancellor of public schools in Washington D.C. showed her continuous support for standardized testing.

"For far too long in this country, there was no accountability," Rhee said, later adding that regular testing was critical to measure student progress.