Local educators hope education officials in the Biden administration will alter federal policy on standardized testing, which is anticipated to produce artificially lower scores.
In September, the Trump Department of Education denied Governor Brian Kemp’s request for the suspension of standardized tests required under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
Kemp cited COVID-19 disruptions and budget cuts as the reasons for the request. Since then, U.S. politicians and school officials continue to plead their case in hopes that Secretary of Education-nominee Miquel Cardona, will waive the required testing.
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However, Cardona’s intention is unclear. During a committee confirmation hearing Wednesday, he mentioned the need for the assessments. He also said it did not “make any sense” to bring online learners into face-to-face classes to complete them.
Columbia County School Superintendent Sandra Carraway says she does not agree with the federal agency’s decision, made under former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to carry out standardized tests during a year of increased pandemic-related absences. It is a sentiment Carraway said she shares with fellow administrators and teachers.
“Children’s learning should not be measured when they have not been in school regularly,” Carraway said. “While we have not had to close our schools, many students have either quarantined or isolated due to the virus, which may impact their ability to score as well on federally mandated tests.”
Government agencies on both state and federal levels have made a few exceptions in the testing process while the virus continues to disrupt classroom learning.
“The testing administration times have been reduced, and the minimum time rule has been eliminated, but the maximum time rule has not changed,” Carraway said in an email Feb. 5. “Fifth grade Social Studies and four end-of-course tests were eliminated (Economics, Physical Science, Analytic Geometry, Ninth Grade Literature).”
In light of the pandemic, the Georgia Department of Education gives flexibility to schools in addressing the testing of two content areas. They may administer the tests on the same day or split the days between them.
The biggest challenge for local school systems is including online learners. Students learning from home must physically attend class while they take the assessments.
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According to Richmond County School District Chief Public Relations Officer Lynthia Ross, Richmond County currently plans to implement a standardized testing program based on federal and state guidelines. It will begin April 19. An assessment team is working with schools to address scheduling and social distancing implications.
“All RCSS students are required to test in person,” she stated in an email Feb. 3. “Make up tests will be made available for students who are sick or quarantined.”
Each school in the Columbia County School District will set up individual schedules for their Learn-from-Home students. The schools will communicate regarding the times with parents well before testing begins April 27. Make up tests will be administered during the regular testing window ending May 13. CCSD will continue with the same COVID-19 protocols, currently in place.
Test scores do not affect federal funding, Carraway said. The results are analyzed to determine if any instructional changes or supports are required to address students’ needs. Standardized testing advocates, like the chair of the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., suggest that identifying learning gaps is needed more than ever due to COVID-19 related disruptions. Carraway strongly debates that logic.
“Given the number of days of school students across the state have missed because of the pandemic, we all know learning has been gravely and negatively affected,” she said. “We don’t need a standardized test to affirm that. Furthermore, to cause children to have to take tests we know they are not prepared for, is unfair and hurtful to them.”
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, vowed Wednesday to schedule a vote to send Cardona’s nomination to the full Senate “as soon as possible.”
Shellie Smitley is a staff writer for The Augusta Press. She can be reached at producers@theaugustapress.com
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