Buffalo, NY (WBEN) A year after the COVID pandemic set the education system across New York State into turmoil, the Board of Regents has voted to cancel August 2021 Regents Exams.
If the Department of Education denies a waiver requested by the board, some tests will still have to take place in June.
"With the COVID-19 crisis still affecting the State of New York and students having varied levels of in-person instruction, the Board and the Department are taking necessary steps to provide essential flexibility for the State's students, families and educators," says the Board of Regents.
If the Department of Education denies the state's request for a waiver, only Session 1 of the Grades 3-8 English Language Arts (ELA) and Math Tests will be required; and only the one-session Written Test component of the Grades 4 and 8 Science Tests will be administered.
"As we continue to see a global pandemic impact our schools and students in every corner of the state, the Board and I are determined to complete this school year in a manner that protects the health and safety of all of New York's children," said Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr.
"While we were disappointed by the USDE decision not to grant blanket waivers for state assessments, we are confident that the regulatory amendments acted on today and other assessment-related actions by the Department provide for the flexibility necessary to meet federal requirements while ensuring the well-being of those in our school buildings."
"The Department continues to engage with USDE in regard to finding the best path forward in offering state assessments for the children of New York," said Commissioner Betty A. Rosa.
"In order to inform these discussions, we are engaging with stakeholders across the state to gain insight on the local approaches to student assessment. The regulatory amendments advanced today provide fairness for our students; however we remain hopeful that USDE will provide the necessary waivers to allow our educators to remain engaged in the important work of fostering a safe and healthy learning environment for each child in New York state."
Former Regent Bob Bennett says he has a particular concern.
"Kids who are graduating will have to specify I think to their college applications what the state did so they don't suffer undue consequences from not taking the exam," says Bennett. "I hope the Board of Regents and commissioner can explain to parents what this means for senior in our high schools across the state."
"The 3 through 8 will be a tough order because the variety of teaching that's going on. Some haven't missed a beat, and some have done very little. Those are the kids we have to worry about when they take the tests," says Bennett. He says if the federal department hasn't granted the waiver by now, he doesn't understand what has changed to justify it now.
Bennett notes this is a very unusual year, and says the state will ultimately have to trust the judgement of the local districts.
Niagara Falls Schools Superintendent Mark Laurrie is hopeful the waiver comes from Washington. "It's the wrong time to give Regents exams," says Laurrie. "We have local measures that would suffice in terms of making sure students meet the graduation requirements." Laurrie says he can't understand how a single test can be administered with schools accomplishing varying levels of education because of the pandemic.
Laurrie prefers a local approach. "We did it last year. We used course grades, the teachers' professional judgments. We use the course grade as a means and method to adjudicate whether a student has sufficiently covered the material necessary for a class. It's not the right learning or mental health environment to put Regents exams upon students. It's counterproductive to everything we should have learned during the pandemic" says Laurrie.
The state says the emergency regulations will become effective Tuesday. "It is anticipated that the proposed amendment will be presented for permanent adoption at the June 2021 Regents meeting, after publication of the proposed amendment in the State Register and expiration of the 60-day public comment period required under the State Administrative Procedure Act," says the Board of Regents in a statement.
