With the state breaking records for coronavirus infections and hospitalizations, parents are worried about sending children into classrooms to take required state exams. High school students began returning to school buildings this week for state End of Course (EOCs) exams and career and technical education assessment exams. The state is requiring students to report to campuses to take those exams in person, even if they’ve chosen to take online classes. But some parents are pushing back against sending children to school to take tests amid a pandemic that has claimed more than 5,700 lives in North Carolina. Not taking tests could be costly for students. The exams account for 20% of their final grade. Missing the exam could be the difference between passing or failing a course. It could also lower grade-point-averages and cause students to miss out on scholarship awards or getting into top universities.