It’s Official: New York State Calls Off Exams Due To Coronavirus Closures

By Reema Amin, Chalkbeat New York

This year’s New York State standardized tests will be canceled, state officials announced Friday.

The cancellation came shortly after President Donald Trump announced the federal government would grant states’ requests to forgo this year’s standardized exams amid coronavirus-related closures. State tests are required under federal law.

“It is most important that during the time of closure, schools are able to continue to focus their efforts toward local school and community needs, as they have been doing, and not be concerned about State assessments,” Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa and Interim Commissioner Shannon Tahoe said in a joint statement.

Become a Chalkbeat sponsor

The state education department applied for waivers from testing, school accountability measures, and reporting requirements, they said.

The move is not surprising. Schools across the state are closed until at least April 1, with New York City schools closed until at least April 20. Reading exams were scheduled to start March 25, and math tests were to start on April 21.

Pressure has been mounting on both the state and the federal government to cancel tests this year. Earlier this week, the state education department halted the delivery of state reading tests to schools.

“This decision rightly allows the school community to put our focus where it should be: On staying safe and healthy, rather than on preparing for tests at a time of significant disruption,” New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta said in a statement.

The state is also canceling fourth and eighth grade science tests, as well as the New York state English as a Second Language Achievement test, which tests the proficiency of students who are learning English. The New York State Alternate Assessment, administered to students with “severe cognitive disabilities” is also canceled.

On Friday, state officials said they have not yet made any decisions about Regents exams, which are required to graduate high school.

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization covering public education. Sign up for their newsletters here.