State education leaders are changing testing policies as the state continues to deal with COVID-19. | Stock Photo
State education leaders are changing testing policies as the state continues to deal with COVID-19. | Stock Photo
Virginia's top education officials changed the testing policy to allow students greater flexibility to earn graduation credits while facing the pandemic.
The waivers are in response to the extraordinary circumstances placed on Virginia's schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, education officials said in a November release. They will work to reduce the necessity for in-person testing and allow students in the spring to take local assessments in place of the Standards of Learning examinations for social sciences and English.
"The waivers and emergency guidance will simplify the logistics of SOL testing this year and ensure that COVID-19 pandemic does not unduly prevent any student from earning a diploma, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane said in the release. "The BoE and I are also creating opportunities for school divisions to create multiple pathways for students to demonstrate content mastery while prioritizing health and safety."
Once the Secretary of Education Atif Qarni approves and reviews the new policy, the change will take effect.
The education secretary indicated support for the waiver policy.
"Innovation is necessary to keep Virginia students learning safely this academic year, and we will continue working to create new pathways for student and educator success as they adapt to changing circumstances and forms of instruction," Qarni said in the release.
While social science and English exams will be adjusted, reading and mathematics testing is currently unaffected. Federal education rules have established standards for local schools for those subjects.
Virginia Board of Education President Daniel Gecker echoed his support for the measures.
"The emergency guidance approved today is in keeping with the commitment the Board of Education made during the beginning of the pandemic in March to do everything possible to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on students and schools," Gecker said in the release.
In addition to assessment revisions, the state Board of Education also granted schools emergency guidance to allow more flexibility in awarding credits for school courses, the release said. The flexibility will reduce the obligation for students to return to schools to retake end of term SOL assessments.
Alerts Sign-up