State education leaders want to pause standardized tests

State Superintendent Michael Rice, state legislators, and school leaders from all over Michigan want to halt standardized testing during the 2020-2021 school year.

That would mean cancelling the M-STEP, which is used to assess students’ education, determine whether third-graders need to be held back, and contribute to teachers’ annual assessments.

Standardized tests are required by federal law, but state leaders can request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education.

“We are still in the midst of a pandemic and, therefore, are still supportive of waivers of these federal assessment requirements, in addition to a suspension of the testing requirements in state law,” said Rice in a statement to Bridge Magazine.

Michigan isn’t the only state seeking waivers. Georgia and Oklahoma are both considering similar moves.

You can read the full story here.