Will standardized testing in Washington schools survive the pandemic? By Joy Resmovits, The Seattle Times
Published: January 19, 2021, 12:30pm
Share: with the nation s education system rocked by a pandemic that led to the pause of a broad swath of standardized tests, some education leaders say it s time to rethink testing. (Timothy J. Gonzalez/Statesman-Journal)
When Diane DeBacker worked as state education commissioner in Kansas, educators talked often and openly about their schools’ standardized test scores.
Then, in 2018, she moved to Seattle, where everything was different.
“We didn’t stand in front of a board and talk about how our schools did,” said DeBacker, who worked as Seattle Public Schools’ top academic officer until earlier this month. “I was like, huh, we don’t lead with assessments in Seattle. That’s kind of comforting.”
Parents advocate for reopening schools as Portland Public Schools leaders discuss issue
District leaders say racial equity and social justice, and the health of students and staff, have been some of the guiding principles for COVID-19 planning. Author: Mike Benner Updated: 11:10 PM PST December 14, 2020
PORTLAND, Ore. Rene Gonzalez has had enough. He is a father of three and co-founder of ED 300, a group advocating for the reopening of schools. Gonzalez says distance learning is not cutting it. There are certain elements of the development process that can t be replicated effectively online, said Gonzalez. There s social, emotional development.
Gonzalez is afraid that if schools remain closed families will leave Oregon for states where the schools are open.