The U.S. Department of Education has denied New York’s request to cancel state standardized testing this year.
The state Education Department made the request because of the pandemic. They were concerned that spring assessments couldn't be "safely, equitably and fairly" administered in schools.
Officials said the idea that state assessments could be "standardized" this year is unrealistic given the different formats of instruction online and in-person. The tests were canceled last year for the same reasons.
However, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona denied the request. He acknowledged that students learning remotely should not be brought into school only to take an assessment. Cardona is Connecticut’s former education commissioner.