Backtalk: This spring, test only to assess

Abstract

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues into the 2020-21 school year, education leaders will have to make decisions about whether and how to conduct end-of-year assessments. Some have called to eliminate them altogether for the current school year, but that would be a mistake, argues Ross Wiener, of the Aspen Institute. Instead, educators and policy makers should offer assessments that are adapted for various learning scenarios (in person, remote, hybrid) without using the results for accountability decisions. At the same time, though, districts should collect data on, and hold schools accountable for, the extent to which they provide equitable opportunities for all students to learn during these difficult times.