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Halloween will start a little later this year for a group of Hutchinson children.
McCandless Elementary has canceled its annual Halloween parade.
The reason? Poor test scores. Administrators say the time is better spent in the classroom. Many parents disagree, as well as some students.
"Aw man, the thing's canceled? This sucks," says a disappointed Hadyen Bloesser.
The 3rd grader had plans to be a military man for Halloween and dress up in his SWAT costume. Now, he'll have to save it for later.
McCandless Elementary canceled the annual Halloween parade because of low test scores. The school is being monitored by the State Department of Education. The administration says they'd rather use the time to teach instead of party.
"We're about student learning. We're not about school parades. I mean, those are fun things but we're about student learning," says Ray Hemman, public information officer for Hutchinson Public Schools USD 308.
But some parents ask, why punish everyone?
"Maybe exclude those children. I think the kids that are doing in school ought to have the opportunity to celebrate and have fun," says John Bloesser.
Vicky Hester has two children at McCandless Elementary and says she works with her kids on their grades and that everyone shouldn't have to suffer.
"It's elementary, you can't just expect everybody to be on the same level. You have to look at different ways. Some kids learn one way and others a different way," says Hester.
Her kids Haylie and Braden already had their costumes picked out and ready to wear. Now she says they'll sport them for trick or treating around the neighborhood.
And as for Hayden Bloesser? He has high hopes for Halloween night.
"Well, I hope my dad is gonna let me have some more trick or treating time," he says grinning.
Principal Glenn Owen at McCandless says that the classroom celebrations will go on as planned. The time allotted for the Halloween parade will be used instead for learning. Superintendent of Hutchinson schools, Shelly Kiblinger, says that the district supports the decision.