School Testing Canceled In PA Due To Coronavirus

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Education cancelled all standardized testing on Thursday amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This follows the closure of all public schools earlier in the week.

A total of 185 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, have been confirmed and the state saw its first death on Wednesday.

All tests, including the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment for elementary and middle school students, Keystone Exams for high school students and the Pennsylvania Alternate System of Assessment for students with cognitive disabilities, have been canceled.

“Our school communities are operating within unprecedented conditions,” Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera said in a press release. “Schools are making extraordinary efforts to remain connected to students and families, to provide food service and to put appropriate systems in place to continue student learning."

According to Rivera, the state will submit waivers to the U.S. Department of Education for this school year's incomplete testing. In a March 12 conference call with state education leaders, the federal government said it will consider a one-year waiver for states experiencing school closures from COVID-19. This ruling was also outlined on the U.S. department's fact sheet on the impact of COVID-19.

"Assessments should not be the focus of school leaders right now,"Rivera said adding that Pennsylvania will work with other states to advocate for more flexibility and clarity from federal guidance.

For more information and updates on Pennsylvania’s education policies regarding the pandemic visit education.pa.gov/COVID19.