Testing, testing 1, 2, 3

More than 60,000 New York City public middle school kids begin heading back into classrooms this morning, joining a few hundred thousand youngsters in grades K-5 learning at least partially in person. Many more, including all high schoolers, have all their classes entirely over the internet.

While this chopped up, cobbled together school year — which follows one rudely interrupted by COVID last March — is excusable in a pandemic-scrambled city, what’s inexcusable is failing to measure the learning loss wrought since early 2020.

Early signs are worrisome, to say the least. A December study by McKinsey looking at one national sample found that, by fall 2020, kids had lost the equivalent of three months of learning in math and one-and-a-half months in reading. It was worse in schools predominantly serving Black and Hispanic youngsters. New York is no exception; remote learning quality has been scattershot, with kids in deepest need likelier to get the short end of the pencil. The pandemic has been an academic disaster for families in homelessness, for instance.

Precisely how to address worsening deficiencies is the subject for another editorial, but if America and New York have any hope of helping kids dig out, it first must know who’s fallen into holes and how deep they are. Kudos, then, to the Biden administration and incoming Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona for telling states they cannot wholly sidestep 2020-21 standardized tests. While states can get permission to shorten the tests they give, delay them until the fall and uncouple them from accountability measures, putting hands over eyes and pretending there’s no problem is not an answer.

“It is urgent to understand the impact of COVID-19 on learning,” an assistant secretary wrote to chief state school officers. Amen. Earlier this month, New York State’s Education Department wrongly asked the feds for permission to waive all testing requirements for a second straight year. The feds must get out the red pen and respond: “Try again.”

Williamsburg, Va.: The Black police officer who shot and killed white military veteran Ashli Babbitt as she climbed through a window inside the U.S. Capitol during the protests and riot on Jan. 6 will not be criminally charged. This is an outrage. No matter how innocent the police officer, I really have a hard time trying to figure out why he shot the woman. If she were Black and he white, BLM, Antifa and the Democrats would be screaming bloody murder, looting, destroying businesses and beating up cops. I demand a full investigation into the killing.

John Lemandri

Briarwood: Really, Sarah Feinberg, blaming low subway ridership on COVID (“Low subway ridership? Blame the messenger!” Feb. 22)?

Do you read the Daily News, Sarah? Extra, extra: Read all about it! Passengers and MTA personnel are being attacked, sucker-punched, thrown on the tracks. Take a look at Monday’s paper, page 5, and don’t forget Bramhall’s cartoon, page 21. You’re right not to worry about your title. Patricia Nuzzi