State testing for grades 3 through 8 is set to begin in less than two weeks, on April 19.

This comes after the New York State Education Department requested to postpone testing this year due to the pandemic. But after submitting two federal waivers, the request was denied by the U.S. Department of Education. 

State commissioner of Education Dr. Betty Rosa says she is disappointed in the decision. She says canceling testing would be in the best interest of students. She adds that standardizing this year's assessments is unrealistic given the hybrid model of teaching. 

NYSED has made adjustments to this year's testing though. 

Students learning fully remote are not required to participate, unless parents opt them in. The department will also only use results to measure student learning, and not as a measure to hold schools or teachers accountable.