Florida Education Department waives high-stakes school testing rules

JACKSONVILLE. Fla. — Big news for Florida schools Friday, as students’ Spring standardized test scores will no longer determine if they can graduate or move on to the next grade.

An emergency order issued by the state’s education commissioner Richard Corcoran says the decision is in response to COVID-19.

”I’m kind of okay with it, I have two high schoolers now,” Heather Seconder said.

Her main focus is getting her sophomore and senior daughters through school during the pandemic.

”Things are hard right now,” she said.

She welcomes the decision. The order touches on keeping kids safe and educated and promoting reopening schools.

The state is now doing away with standardized testing rules for students, ultimately making it easier for them to move up in grade levels and graduate.

”My tenth grader has a lot of issues... She struggles a lot... Doing away with those mandated testings probably is for the best,” Seconder added.

The Florida Standards Assessment exams will not affect grade-level promotion and high school graduation this school year.

The order waives three key testing rules:

*Third graders will no longer have to pass the state reading test.

*Middle and high school students’ state exams that previously accounted for 30% of final class grades are being waived.

*12th graders will no longer have to pass the state’s Algebra I exam and its 10th grade Language Arts exam to graduate.

Seconder says the stakes have already been too high to begin with.

”These state testings are too much,” she said.

As a parent, she adds that she’s relieved her daughters have one less thing to worry about during an already difficult school year.

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