Drop spring standardized tests this year
Note from Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson: The Dispatch editorial board reasoned in a Jan. 31 editorial that K-12 schools should go forward with standardized testing as an important benchmark, but without the penalties that typically come with poor testing performance. The editorial board of the Akron Beacon Journal arrived at a different conclusion, which we offer here as another viewpoint on the topic
Standardized testing of our students remains a necessary evil. But it’s a distraction that should be skipped this year as schools seek a return to a sense of normalcy amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
We were surprised last week to hear the Biden administration still wants American children to take federally mandated exams while declaring results won’t be used to grade schools or teachers. Federal officials also expressed a willingness to be flexible with states on timing and the scope of the tests. “It is urgent to understand the impact of COVID-19 on learning,” Ian Rosenblum, the acting assistant education secretary, wrote in a letter to states.
The decision left Ohio, which was poised to suspend the tests for a second year, in limbo with precious weeks left in the school year. It’s also reignited the never-ending battle on how we should assess students and use those results to grade their teachers and the quality of public education.
Every child has faced unprecedented changes in their education during the pandemic, with all Ohio students finishing last school year virtually. Many have attended a mix of online and in-person classes at various points this year. Some, including Akron Public School students, won’t have stepped inside of a classroom for a year by the time they return in March.
There’s no question the education of all children has been compromised in our efforts to curb a deadly pandemic. It’s clear the negative impact has been greatest in communities where poverty made online learning challenging at best. We fear the longterm consequences for many children could be significant. While an argument can be made for trying to quantify the educational losses our children must overcome, it’s far more important to help them get back on track. Taking significant time away from teaching for testing won’t help, especially when results won’t be available until summer.
If the Biden administration intends to stick to its position, it needs to immediately share what minimum testing will be accepted and when those tests should occur. Making each state seek individual waivers creates confusion when immediate clarity is needed. Nor can new tests that may be shorter, for example, be developed quickly. There’s also a chance COVID-19 cases could spike again, making testing impossible.
Ohio’s spring testing window for English language arts opens March 22, which means lawmakers have to quickly decide if testing should be postponed until later this school year or even next fall.
Our schools need clear and direct guidance immediately. Parents and their kids would appreciate less stress after an incredibly difficult year.
We can only hope next year will be normal and allow for regular teaching and testing.