New York State suspends state assessment exams amid coronavirus outbreak
During the coronavirus crisis, schools should be allowed to focus on local needs, a state Education Department notice said. Credit: iStock/Mojzes Igor
The state Education Department has suspended all state assessments for grades 3 to 8 for the remainder of the school year due to the unprecedented school closures caused by the coronavirus, officials said.
A news release issued Friday by Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa and Interim Education Commissioner Shannon Tahoe said the state has applied for federal waivers for testing, accountability, and reporting requirements.
“It is most important that during the time of closure, schools are able to continue to focus their efforts toward local school and community needs, as they have been doing, and not be concerned about State assessments," read the notice.
Friday, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced that students impacted by school closures due to the pandemic can bypass standardized testing for this school year. Upon request, the Department will grant a waiver to any state unable to assess students due to the national emergency, providing relief from federally mandated testing requirements this school year, federal officials said.
In a statement, New York State United Teachers president Andy Pallotta said, "This decision rightly allows the school community to put our focus where it should be: On staying safe and healthy, rather than on preparing for tests at a time of significant disruption.”
Long Island public schools have been a stronghold of the test boycott movement for at least the past five years with thousands of elementary and intermediate-level students refusing to take the English Language Arts or math exams each spring. The exams, mandated by federal law and formerly known as Common Core tests, sparked a revolt by those opposed to the assessments who say they do not accurately measure student achievement and are not developmentally appropriate, and that the tests and preparation for them take up far too much class time.
This suspension for the remainder of the school year applies to the following New York State testing programs: grades 3-8 English Language Arts test; grades 3-8 mathematics test; grade 4 elementary-level science test; grade 8 intermediate-level science test; English as a second language achievement test (NYSESLAT) in grades K-12; and the New York State alternate assessment (NYSAA) for students with severe cognitive disabilities in grades 3-8 and high school.
Education Department officials also announced that the state's nine public television stations have expanded educational resources and “learn-at-home” programming is available. The state has launched a dedicated website featuring remote learning resources for educators. Students from pre-K through 12th grade will have access to educational programming on PBS every weekday starting Monday.
Joie Tyrrell is a Long Island native and covers education for Newsday, where she has worked since 1998.
