Education Secretary DeVos: Plan on standardized assessment tests this school year
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Schoolchildren will likely have to take standardized tests this year even if they take classes online from home during the coronavirus pandemic: That’s the message from the U.S. Department of Education.
In this letter dated Sept. 3, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos told states’ chief schools officers that the U.S. Department of Education expects states to administer tests, such as Indiana’s ILEARN, during the 2020-2021 school year.
“Indiana, just like other states, is now required to ensure that we give those assessments this year,” said Adam Baker, a spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Education, on Tuesday.
Right now, Hoosier students are learning either in classrooms, virtually on a device, or a mix of both called a hybrid model.
“That does lend itself more to an environment where you could put a test in front of that student,” Baker said. “But, when you have students who are all virtual, to provide those assessments is going to be difficult. So, we’ve been working with districts to determine what’s going to be that best approach? What should that approach look like?”
So, how do you administer a standardized test to a student learning remotely? Baker said school districts are looking at a few options, including setting up a place where students can come in to take tests.
“Either on a one-by-one basis or on a few-by-few basis where they can be socially distanced and you can ensure that you have every safety measure in place. That is an option,” Baker said.
He said the Indiana Department of Education has not yet heard whether assessment scores from the testing will be used to determine teacher ratings and raises.
“When it comes to accountability, does assessment matter? Do we really need assessments to tell how our students are doing? We’ve said from day one our educators know how our students are doing. They don’t necessarily need a test to tell them,” Baker said.
As all of this gets figured out, Indiana’s message is clear: Student safety is No. 1.
Baker said ISTEP 10 starts in November for high school seniors who need to retake it. Other state assessments such as ILEARN are scheduled to start in the spring, beginning with third-graders.
Baker recommends that people with questions call their local school district.
Statement
“Insisting students and educators participate in standardized tests, Sec. DeVos couldn’t be any more tone deaf. The pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated equity and fiscal gaps in our schools and any time spent testing would be pointless for educators and parents. Pushing standardized tests is a waste of funding and already limited student learning time.”
Jennifer Smith-Margraf, vice president of Indiana State Teachers Association