ALBANY, N.Y. (WKBW) — All elementary and intermediate State assessments have been suspended for the remainder of the school year. The Board of Regents Chancellor made that announcement in a press release issued on Friday.
In that release it states, "The school closures caused by the Novel Coronavirus are unprecedented and so, we have to make unprecedented decisions for our students. The administrations of the 2020 elementary and intermediate-level State assessments have been suspended for the remainder of the school year."
The Chancellor writes, "It is 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. NYSED has applied for federal waivers for testing, accountability and reporting requirements."
This suspension applies to the following New York State testing programs:
- NYS Grades 3-8 English Language Arts Test
- NYS Grades 3-8 Mathematics Test
- NYS Grade 4 Elementary-Level Science Test
- NYS Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test
- NYS English as a Second Language Achievement Testin Grades K-12
- NYS Alternate Assessment for students with severe cognitive disabilities in Grades 3-8 and high school
The New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta issued this statement Friday:
“This is not the time to create more stress for our kids, which is why we called on the federal government to take exactly this action on behalf of our students, educators and our schools. 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.”
