OASBO joined in testimony with other education associations last week in support of House Bill (HB) 67. HB 67 provides flexibility for schools in the administration of Ohio’s state-required achievement tests. The bill requires the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to request a waiver from the United States Secretary of Education for federally required tests. It expressly states that if a waiver is not granted, schools would be required to administer only those assessments required under federal law.
In our testimony, we emphasized that time spent on preparing for and administering assessments during this school year will not be a productive use of the limited time that educators have with students due to the pandemic. Rather, educators want to spend that time helping students overcome learning loss and continuing to establish a productive learning environment. In addition to requesting flexibility in the current school year on achievement assessments, we highlighted that the required diagnostic assessments, which are used to inform instruction for each student, would not be waived.
The bill is expected to be voted out of the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee this week, which would be followed soon after by a floor vote in the House. Please reach out to your Representatives and encourage them to support HB 67.