The Value of Standardized Tests in the Age of COVID-19

For years, a growing number of educators and administrators have been questioning the merits of standardized testing. Annual tests, often given in April or May, are required by state or federal agencies as a measure of school effectiveness. In some states, student performance is tied to funding, teacher evaluations and pay, or even as a gatekeeper for students to advance from grade to grade.

When school shutdowns upended the education system in the spring of 2020, the assessments were swiftly postponed nationwide. The U.S. Department of Education gave K-12 schools a waiver for the spring 2020 standardized test to release schools from the testing requirement.

Now, during a turbulent year of schools reopening, closing, and engaging in hybrid programs, many are questioning the place of standardized and high-stakes exams in K-12, as well as the importance of standardized college admission tests, especially with the renewed focus on equity and access in light of the pandemic.

Testing in the future

State standardized testing is not going to go away forever, but it might look different in the future and be used for different purposes. As it stands now, the US DOE will not allow full waivers for standardized testing requirements like it did in the spring of 2020. However, states can consider adaptations like extending the testing window, postponing testing until the fall, giving tests remotely, or offering a shortened version of the tests.

The National Assessment Governing Board said it would move forward with administering the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which provides a nationally representative snapshot of national student progress in reading, math, science, and writing for grades 4 and 8.

What these test results mean — with the disruption of the previous year and no measure of growth for the 2019-2020 school year — is an open question. Do educators judge the results against the old criteria, or new criteria that takes school disruption into account?

The unknown for the 2020–2021 school year is how well students will perform on this year’s assessments versus 2018-2019, which was the last time students had a “normal” school year. Comparing this spring’s results to those in 2019 can give schools a clear idea of how much school disruption has affected students’ learning.

College entrance exams

As many colleges announced their decisions to waive SAT and ACT requirements for admission for the 2021–2022 academic year, the value and necessity of standardized college entrance exams also came into question. Even before the health crisis, many colleges had dropped the SAT/ACT from their admissions process.

College prep testing emphasis in K – 12 could change if more colleges move away from the admissions tests. However, that doesn’t mean that college prep disappears. Other aspects of the admissions process, including GPA, extracurricular activities and application essays, will carry more weight.

Students need to ensure that their high school activities, report cards, and writing skills are up to par.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever that state and district leaders work together to harmonize the purposes and uses of interim and state assessments. The uses of test data may change, but that doesn’t mean the data isn’t important.

Parents look to test scores for additional information about their child’s education. Students use test scores to create targets for future academic growth. States need assessment results to help gauge the effectiveness of their schools.

At the federal level, the information can be used to target states that may need additional support or resources. Outside of the classroom, a place like Sylvan Learning can give families assessment information that school tests may not. The results can help students determine where they are in their education, help them stay on track, or help them get ahead.