CURMUDGUCATION: PA Scraps the Big Standardized Test

CURMUDGUCATION: PA Scraps the Big Standardized Test

PA Scraps the Big Standardized Test

Word has been shooting out over social media for the last twenty minutes. The PSSA, the Keystone exam, and even the PASA are officially not happening this year.

“Our school communities are operating within unprecedented conditions,” said Secretary of Education Pedro A. Rivera. “Schools are making extraordinary efforts to remain connected to students and families, to provide food service and to put appropriate systems in place to continue student learning. Assessments should not be the focus of school leaders right now."

And just in case that isn't clear--

“To be clear, all assessments are cancelled for this year,” Rivera said.

They'll submit paperwork to the feds. They'll presumably have to figure out what to do about the missing data for school and teacher evaluation. They'll probably dither and kick the Keystones-as-a-graduation-requirement can further down the road.

But for the moment, Pennsylvania teachers have one less damn thing to worry about. And all the other states have one more source of pressure for doing the right thing and canning the useless, pointless tests this year.

CURMUDGUCATION: PA Scraps the Big Standardized Test