Spring 2021 plan: Federal gov’t tells states to do standardized testing to measure students’ learning levels in math & reading.
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In a prior post, we reported results from a survey done in Fall 2020 that indicated, for example:
- Students in 5th & 6th grades started the 2020-2021 school year 12 or more weeks behind their expected learning levels in math.
- Students in grades 4 to 7 started the 2020-2021 school year 4 or more weeks behind their expected learning levels in reading.
Of course, we opined: It be useful to give students standardized tests this spring, as more of them return to school?
Well, maybe, just maybe, that will materialize.
According to USA Today…
Under federal law, states must administer annual exams in key subjects including reading and math to students in third through eighth grade and once in high school.
The requirement to administer state exams was waived by in spring 2020, when most U.S. schools shut down as a result of COVID-19.
But, a recent letter from Biden’s Education Dept. advised states that they will need to administer the annual standardized achievement exams to students this year.
There is some “wiggle room” to shorten the annual exams, administer them remotely or delay giving them until summer or fall … but, “the Biden administration will not consider blanket waivers of assessments this year.”
Of course, not all sides agree with the announcement.
