Vermont Business Magazine Today Vermont Secretary of Education Dan French made the following statement regarding the US Department of Education (USED) letter to Chief State School Officers offering flexibilities to states on statewide assessment, accountability and reporting requirements for the 2020-2021 school year. Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, student achievement, or lack thereof, has been a significant issue. Measuring that achievement has also been difficult. School was suspended for a time last spring and then brought back remotely. Even now, there is only partial in-person education.
The announcement indicates that USED will not provide blanket waivers for assessment administration during the 2020-2021 school year. The Department is offering flexibility to states in how and when to offer their statewide assessments, and in their federally required accountability systems.
USED will also require all states to maintain state and local report card requirements. USED will also require states to report chronic absenteeism data.
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In reaction to this news, Secretary French made the following remarks:
“I welcome the US Department of Education extending flexibility on these important topics. It is a recognition of the reality we face; students and schools are navigating an unprecedented situation and unique stress. At the same time, we need data on student progress as one part of a larger strategy to address the impacts of COVID-19 on students.
"While we are grateful for this flexibility, it will be important to get this right. The Agency of Education is currently analyzing this announcement to fully understand its implications to the Vermont state and local assessment and accountability context this school year. We will communicate additional information and guidance to school districts in the days and weeks ahead.”
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Source: MONTPELIER, Vt. – Secretary of Education 2.23.2021