H.S. seniors to get break on testing from N.Y. officials
New York’s state education department will proceed with standardized tests this spring, but won’t make them graduation requirements for high school students, officials said Tuesday.
State officials requested permission from the U.S. Education Department earlier this month to cancel all standardized tests this spring, pointing to the logistical and equity challenges of administering the exams during the pandemic.
But federal officials announced Monday night they won’t give states blanket permission to cancel the exams, though they will allow states to modify them.
State officials said Tuesday they are “disappointed” by the decision from the feds but are “examining all possible options.”
Public schools across the state typically administer spring exams to students in grades three through eight. High school students also take subject area Regents exams, and are traditionally required to pass five of the tests to graduate.
State officials say the exams won’t be used to assess the performance of schools or teachers this year or as graduation requirements for high-schoolers.
“[The] U.S. Department of Education agreed to uncouple state assessments from accountability measures so no school will be affected by the results of state assessments and the results will solely be used as a measure of student learning,” said state Education Department spokeswoman Emily DeSantis.
“Given these circumstances, the department will propose a series of regulatory amendments at the March Board of Regents meeting so Regents exams would not be required to meet graduation requirements and to cancel any Regents exam that is not required by USDE to be held,” she added.
Last year, students were able to use passing grades from their high school courses in place of test scores to satisfy state graduation requirements.
It’s not yet clear what graduation requirements the state will impose this year, or how officials will alter standardized tests this spring.
Monday’s ruling from the federal Education Department says states can offer the exams remotely.