Biden's Testing Stance Leaves States Tough Choices. Some May Still Try to Avoid Exams

The Biden administration’s decision not to entertain states’ requests to cancel standardized exams for this school year due to the pandemic marks its first major K-12 policy decision—and it’s leading to no shortage of controversy.

Although the department has now provided clarity on that highly anticipated decision, its approach to the issue—a continued mandate for testing, tempered by some flexibility—will still push states to make difficult choices. And the clock is ticking on an already disrupted school year.

Questions about how much value to place on the test will help define the months ahead. And despite the administration’s rebuff, some states might not fully lose their appetite for canceling or otherwise getting out from under having to administer those tests.

https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/bidens-testing-stance-leaves-states-tough-choices-some-may-still-try-to-avoid-exams/2021/02