US Department of Education says schools must give standardized tests if it’s safe
(WISH) — The U.S. Department of Education on Monday said in a letter that it will require schools to administer standardized tests this year as long as it’s safe during the coronavirus pandemic.
In Indiana, that will include Indiana Learning Evaluation and Readiness Network. ILEARN was created by the legislature in 2017 to replace Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus, or ISTEP+.
ILEARN assesses English/language arts and mathematics in grades 3-8; science in grades 4 and 6; high school biology; social studies in Grade 5; and U.S. government in high school.
The letter from the U.S. Department of Education also says it will grant waivers from accountability for states that ask, and that states should not return students to schools just to take standardized tests if it’s not safe.
News release
“Today, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is providing guidance to states emphasizing the importance of flexibility in administering assessments this year as a result of the pandemic and supporting the use of assessment data as a source of information for parents and educators to target resources and support, rather than for accountability purposes this year.
“State assessments and accountability systems play an important role in advancing educational equity, identifying student needs, and targeting the resources to address them. At the same time, some schools and districts may not be able to safely administer statewide summative assessments this spring using their standard practices, while others may wish to prioritize learning time during the scant in-person schooling time this year in many communities. The pandemic requires that states have significant flexibility in implementing this work for the 2020-2021 school year and ED’s guidance is a practical approach that balances these two priorities.
“‘The Department of Education is committed to supporting all states in assessing student learning during the pandemic to help target resources and support to the students with the greatest needs,’ said Ian Rosenblum, acting assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education. ‘We also recognize that at a time when everything in our education system is different, there need to be different ways that states can administer state tests like moving them to the fall so that precious in-person learning time this year can be spent on instruction. Balancing these priorities is the best approach.’
“ED’s guidance makes clear that states should consider the ways they can do things differently this year. Flexibility available to states includes:
“Extending the testing window and moving assessments to the summer or fall,
“Giving the assessment remotely, where feasible,
“Shortening the state assessment, to make testing more feasible to implement and prioritize in-person learning time.
“The Department also recognizes that individual states may need additional assessment flexibility based on the specific circumstances across or within the state. ED is prepared to work with states to address their individual needs and conditions while ensuring the maximum available statewide data to inform the targeting of resources and support.
“In addition to encouraging flexibility around assessments, ED is allowing states to request a waiver for the Every Student Succeeds Act’s accountability and school identification requirements. This flexibility will explicitly include waiving the accountability provisions relating to having a 95 percent test participation rate.
“The Department’s letter to Chief State School Officers outlining its plans for the 2020-2021 school year can be found here.
“‘States are working hard to respond to the unique circumstances they are facing and maintain their immediate focus on supporting students’ social, emotional, and academic development,’ said Jessica Cardichon, deputy assistant secretary of K-12, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development. ‘In addition to this guidance, the Administration is working with Congress to secure the additional resources in the American Rescue Plan that are needed to support states and districts in safely reopening schools and responding to the long-term impact of COVID on students and educators.’
“The steps taken today by the Department of Education reflect a practical approach for addressing the immediate crisis at hand. The Department will continue to engage a broad range of stakeholders regarding how the Biden-Harris Administration can best implement its agenda to prepare all students to succeed in the tomorrow’s economy, regardless of race, parents’ income, zip code, or disability; and to provide educators with the support, respect and dignity they deserve. President Biden’s proposed American Rescue Plan calls for $130 billion in funding to help schools safely reopen and meet the unique needs students and educators are facing during the pandemic, including supporting the academic, social, and emotional needs of students.“
News release from the U.S. Department of Education issued Feb. 22, 2021, with the headline “U.S. Department of Education Releases Guidance to States on Assessing Student Learning During the Pandemic”
Response to News 8 inquiry
“Yes, we received the letter. Consistent with federal guidance, assessments are scheduled to be administered this spring. Last week we shared information with schools that we would work to extend the window for ISTEP+ testing, allowing schools to maximize their time.
“As reflected in this federal guidance, student learning and progress are fundamental to ensuring student success – especially during the pandemic — and assessments serve as one important component in our overall effort. In particular, we know Indiana’s low-income students, as well as our black and brown students, have been disproportionately impacted in multiple ways by the pandemic. As our federal partners said in their guidance, assessments will provide a snapshot of student progress, help us understand the impact COVID-19 has had on learning, address educational inequities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic and inform parents on how their children are doing.
“IDOE (Indiana Department of Education) has already requested a federal waiver for calculating accountability determinations, and is collaborating with state legislators to ensure schools are held harmless for the test results by issuing a null grade for the current school year. IDOE is also working with state policymakers for guidance in flexibility in graduation requirements, making sure that students also don’t face consequences due to the pandemic.”
Response to inquiry from News 8 by Holly Lawson, deputy director of communications, Indiana Department of Education