As school communities continue to navigate the impacts of a global pandemic, new learning environments (remote or hybrid) have brought forth complex challenges when it comes to safely, reliably and equitably assessing student learning using statewide standardized testing. Additionally, standardized tests are used for accountability purposes, which can create scenarios where students and educators experience punitive outcomes that are potentially inaccurate due to the implementation of learning environments that are incomparable with prior years. Fortunately, there are solutions to these potential outcomes that policymakers can consider and implement expeditiously.
To learn more, download the Forum’s January 2021 Education Insights, “Assessment and Accountability During COVID-19: Supporting Safety and Learning for North Carolina’s Schools and Students.”
The Solutions:
- Apply for federal waivers for assessment and accountability requirements.
- Encourage use of expanded testing windows for state assessments.
- Suspend A-F School Grades for 2020-21
- Pause rule that EOCs must count for 20% of a student’s grade.
- Remove student performance on standardized tests from the evaluation process for teachers and from compensation packages for principals.
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