Pennsylvania public schools will be allowed to postpone standardized testing of students until fall.
Acting Education Secretary Noe Ortega made the announcement Saturday that the Pennsylvania Department of Education submitted a letter to the U.S. Department of Education confirming the state will give the option to delay federally-required academic achievement and English learner proficiency tests until fall.
“Since the start of this pandemic, our work has been centered on protecting the health and safety of students, educators, and school staff across the state,” said Ortega. “Our decision to extend the testing window continues to prioritize their health and safety and creates needed flexibilities for our unique school communities.”
Local education agencies (LEAs) will be given the options to administer assessments either this spring or this fall. The change is due to COVID-19-related challenges to schools.
“This decision allows Pennsylvania to comply with federal law, ensures that assessment administration does not systematically disadvantage historically underserved student groups, and maintains a focus on meeting students’ emotional and social needs as education recovery continues,” stated a press release from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
According to the department, the new approach will give schools flexibility in collecting the data, which is used for a variety of purposes. The assessments not only provide insight into the schools’ success, department also wants to see how the pandemic influenced the learning of groups including “low-income students, students of color, English learners, and students with disabilities.”
The U.S. Department of Education released new guidance last week on the administration of assessments this spring. The guidance allowed for changes such as testing in summer or fall and the option to give remote assessments when possible.
“Currently, there is no blanket federal waiver available for school assessments for the 2020-2021 school year,” the Pennsylvania Department of Education reported. “Pennsylvania will not use any assessment results that derive from a pandemic year for any high-stakes purpose, including school improvement designations.”
More information about the Pennsylvania Department of Education can be found at www.education.pa.gov
