A group of bipartisan representatives believes standardized testing can wait. | stock photo
A group of bipartisan representatives believes standardized testing can wait. | stock photo
Rep. John Reilly (R-Oakland Township) joined 11 other bipartisan representatives in calling on Michigan Superintendent Michael Ross to urge U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to waive federal standardized testing for the 2020-21 school year.
Reilly said that students have suffered great stress and uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic. He and his colleagues believe that the rigors of required testing would only harm students further.
“Our classrooms and children are facing immeasurable uncertainty,” Reilly said, according to Michigan House Republicans. “Our primary concern should be how students will acclimate themselves to their classmates and schools after continued months of stress and anxiety. Superintendents, educators and parents in my district have made it clear the last thing our students need to worry about when they return to the classroom are federally mandated assessments.”
Rep. John Reilly
| Michigan House Republicans
Several states are requesting waivers from federally mandated standardized testing for the upcoming school year. The snapshot standardized testing provides may not be an effective measure of student knowledge or teacher success, since students will be adjusting to a new system of instruction when classes resume this fall.
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