COVID-19 has presented tremendous challenges to students, teachers, parents, and districts for the past several months. Educators and families across Tennessee have responded with innovation and commitment to serve students throughout this difficult time. Given the ever-changing nature of the pandemic, the recent call to suspend statewide assessment for the 2020-21 school year is premature and would result in the loss of important information about student academic progress.
Educators use assessment data to inform instruction. Losing multiple years of data can intensify gaps in learning and magnify equity challenges across the state.
As we lead up to school reopening this fall, we strongly encourage policymakers at the local and state level to protect tools, like assessment, used by educators to serve all students in Tennessee.
David Mansouri
State Collaborative on Reforming Education