(Juneau, AK, Wednesday, February 10, 2021) – We know this school year has been hard on students emotionally and academically in Alaska. Parents have stepped up in unprecedented ways and are more engaged than they’ve ever been. In a school year with so much uncertainty, teachers in Alaska need a complete and objective picture of how each student is doing.

Spring statewide assessments should be part of a broader set of information that the nation and Alaska can use to understand what our schools and students need to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why the Collaborative for Student Success joined 18 civil rights and education organizations in urging Education secretary nominee Dr. Miguel Cardona if he’s confirmed to refrain from issuing a blanket waiver to states that would allow them to bypass student assessments requirements this spring.

Jim Cowen, executive director, explains.

SOUNDBITE #1:

THIS YEAR MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, SPRING STATEWIDE ASSESSMENTS WILL BE KEY IN HELPING EDUCATORS AND PARENTS UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF COVID-NINETEEN. THEY’LL HELP EDUCATION LEADERS KNOW HOW TO TARGET RESOURCES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS – NO MATTER THEIR RACE, THEIR INCOME, THEIR DISABILITY OR WHERE THEY LIVE. WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE USE OF SPRING ASSESSMENTS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF IDENTIFYING WHERE EXTRA HELP IS NEEDED.

SOUNDBITE #2:

AS ALASKA’S SCHOOLS LOOK TO RECOVER FROM COVID-NINETEEN DISRUPTIONS, IT’S  IMPORTANT THAT WE OFFER ASSESSMENTS THIS SPRING TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHERE OUR STUDENTS STAND ACADEMICALLY SO RESOURCES CAN BE BETTER TARGETED. WE’VE JOINED EIGHTEEN CIVIL RIGHTS AND EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONS IN CALLING ON DOCTOR MIGUEL CARDONA, PRESIDENT BIDEN’S PICK FOR EDUCATION SECRETARY, TO STAND STRONG IN SUPPORT OF ASSESSMENTS THIS SPRING. RESULTS WILL SHINE A LIGHT ON DEEP INEQUITIES AND ALLOW US TO PAVE A WAY FORWARD FROM THE ACADEMIC DISRUPTIONS CAUSED BY COVID-NINETEEN.

For more information, visit https://forstudentsuccess.org.