BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – What, if any, sort of standardized testing will be conducted in New York State for grade school students?
The regents exams are tentatively scheduled for January and June, though the state education department said they will only be scheduled if it is deemed safe for the exams to be administered in school buildings across the state. January's regents exams would go from January 26-29 and most of the state exams next summer would run from June 15-24.
"At this time, the primary focus of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the Board of Regents is to guide schools and school districts across the State in planning for the safe and orderly return to schools in September," NYSED wrote last month. "Like all of you, we believe that the physical and mental health, safety, and well-being of the children and adults in our schools are paramount."
Niagara Falls Schools Superintendent Mark Laurrie told WBEN last week he thinks there should be no regents so that there is one less stressor for teachers and students this year.
"It would be a major help to the smooth and calm running of schools around the state if we knew that New York State 3-through-8 or regents testing has taken a hiatus and the priority has come back to getting kids safely and supported with mental health and back in school," Laurrie said. "In about a year or so when everything is set and settled in, we can return to some kind of testing protocol. I would love to be able to tell our teachers now. However, that doesn't excuse the need for accountability and it doesn't excuse the drive for a high academic standard. Let's all take a breath on something."
Laurrie also said now should be the opportunity that the Board of Regents and NYSED could re-evaluate graduation requirements and the role state testing plays into it.
"I think we're missing that opportunity if we don't attend to that now," he said. "I think eventually we'll get back to some sort of testing but the teachers need the freedom to take care of the kids now."
No final decisions have been made regarding the 2021 exams have been made. The New York State Board of Regents is expected to meet on Monday.
Lawmakers in Albany will be keeping an eye on the developments with the state exams. Assemblyman Sean Ryan, who is also on the Assembly Education Committee, said they have the ability to bring in education leaders about their decision making, regardless of what it is.
"We're off to an optimistic start in some districts," Ryan said. "Other districts seem to be a little more hodge-podge. We have to take an assessment around the state and that's certainly what the regents are doing."
A message to Regent Catherine Collins, who oversees all education activities in Western New York, was not returned.
