Racial gaps and pandemic setbacks drive a demand for more testing in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, but one top official says it's time to scale back next year.
A bill filed by House Republicans on Monday requires school district to offer six weeks of learning recovery and enrichment programs after the regular school year ends.
House Bill 82 “Summer Learning Choice for Families” would also require “innovative” and frequent testing throughout the school year to assess student learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tim Moore
It amends the state’s Benchmark assessments law to mandate more testing in “certain grades and core subject areas to allow teachers to more frequently measure students learning and address student learning loss throughout the school year.”
“An innovative benchmark assessment shall provide for educator flexibility, assessments aligned with the standard course of study, and actionable data for teachers, schools, and local school administrative units,” HB 82 said.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) North Carolina Families for School Testing Reform is hosting an online student and parent event about concerns with in-person standardized student testing as COVID-19 cases surge. Our mission all the time is for fewer tests, fairer tests and fruitful tests so we feel that the current mandate to require in-person testing is not checking any of those boxes, said Chelsea Bartel, a school psychologist and leader with NC Families for School Testing Reform. It s not going to be fruitful to measure skills right now in the midst of a pandemic. It s not fair to our students and families and communities who have chosen virtual learning.