The New York State Education Department is planning to submit a request to the federal government that asks for a waiver for spring 2021 state standardized testing requirements, and community members are welcome to comment through Feb. 5 upon the state’s draft request.
“District administration and the Fayetteville-Manlius School District Board of Education both support the state’s waiver request,” F-M Superintendent Craig J. Tice said. “Waiving the standardized testing requirements will allow our staff to focus valuable instructional time on our students’ immediate academic and social-emotional needs, ensuring that our most vulnerable children have access to the supports, services and opportunities needed to achieve improved and equitable educational outcomes.”
The public is welcome to review and comment upon the state’s draft requests: One request focuses on waiving state testing requirements at the elementary, middle and high school levels for the remainder of the school year, and a second asks for a hold on any new accountability designations, which identify schools and districts in need of improvement.
Comments on the draft requests may be emailed through Feb. 5 to ESSAComments@nysed.gov and “ESSA comments from (sender/organization name)” should be in the subject line.
The state Education Department has also created a four-question survey community members may take regarding the student assessment and school accountability processes.
“If the federal government grants these waivers, particularly the one related to standardized testing, our staff can continue to focus their time and energy on leveling the playing field, or shoring it up, with the goal of providing equitable educational experiences for all of our students,” Tice said.