Have you heard about the campaign to cancel state testing in 2021? Over the past week, the social
media movement gained momentum as teachers from all over the country have used the hashtag
#cancelstatetesting2021
to share the reasons why students shouldn’t be subjected to standardized testing this year—and maybe
ever.
Instagram users @thedaringenglishteacher, @love.tanesha, and @readitwriteitlearnit launched the
campaign on March 1 “to urge the U.S. Department of Education to waive federal testing requirements
this school year…and pause all testing. If the U.S. Department of Education waives state testing
requirements again, students and teachers will have more opportunities to engage in rich learning
experiences that empower and work to create life long learners, not one and done test takers.”
Here’s how other teachers responded:
We’re In the Middle of a Pandemic
“We are still in the midst of a global pandemic. Let that sit in.
•••
How would a test in the middle of a pandemic benefit our schools and communities? I have no magical
powers, but I am sure tests will:
1️⃣not be in before the end of the school year, which isn’t helpful
2️⃣include “policing” students in their homes and lead to accusations of cheating
3️⃣show disparities between communities along the lines of race and class because testing bias is
real
4️⃣not capture the learning that has occurred this year
5️⃣take valuable capital away from planning to safely open in the fall
6️⃣add to the stress of students and teachers already doing the most to survive
7️⃣reveal students haven’t made gains according to the made up standards
•••
This is the perfect time for the country and pause and reevaluate our assessment and accountability
systems with an equity lens. To be clear, it is important to have an accurate understanding of what
students know and need. It’s time for a comprehensive response that brings all stakeholders together
(e.g. students, families, leaders, teachers, ect.) to determine the best course of action given our
current situation.” – @love.tanesha.
Focus on Instruction, Not Assessment
“State testing needs to be canceled this school year because we need to focus on instruction and not
assessment during this global pandemic.” – @thedaringenglishteacher.
The Learning Loss Myth
“State testing needs to be canceled because our students are not numbers and learning loss is a myth
created by test-makers (who view learning in extremely limiting ways)” – @iteachliteracy.
Prioritize Mental Health
“State testing needs to be cancelled because…
👉🏾Inconsistent instruction during this school year
👉🏾Some students have only received remote instruction this year
👉🏾There are equity issues involved with students testing at home via remote learning
👉🏾Students’ mental health should matter more than test scores
👉🏾Standardized tests are racially biased – source source source source
👉🏾Standardized tests do not truly measure growth and knowledge
👉🏾Standardized tests take away from school funding. Studies show that stated spend $1.7 billion
dollars a year administering state tests.
👉🏾Administering the test takes 20-25 hours of instructional time.
👉🏾Tests cannot be safely, equitably, and fairly administered in all areas.
👉🏾Not administering tests provides time for educators to close achievement gaps and measure
achievement in more innovative, holistic, and meaningful ways.” – @iamshan83.
Just Cancel It
“CANCEL IT…
•
We have done it once before, we can surely do it again. I’m joining the campaign because I believe
it’s not what’s best for OUR KIDS.
•
We are still in a pandemic.
We are still pivoting.
We are still surviving.
•
I know about 100 different ways that our state money COULD BE spent rather than on state testing.
Why is this even a debate?” – @mrs.hoeyyy.in.6th.
What Will Standardized Tests in 2021 Even Prove?
“When the Biden administration decided NOT to cancel state tests, it marked my first disappointment
in his presidency. (I was hoping to at least make it to Spring before that happened.)
The fact that state testing will happen despite:
1) we are in a literal pandemic
2) most children have not had face-to-face instruction all year
3) the inequities that exist within our schools is already profound and the GLOBAL PANDEMIC only
made the gaps even worse
4) standardized tests in 2021 will prove what? Our students have deficiencies? 🤔 Um, yeah because
we are in a PANDEMIC!” – @whimsyandrigor.
Students > Data
“I will always fight for what is best for my students. State testing needs to be canceled because
since LAST SCHOOL YEAR, students have been subjected to inconsistent instructional time; there is an
equity issue. Our students should matter more than the data we get from them.” – @thedanielsgram.
Kids Are Trying to Survive
“We are trying to survive during a pandemic. Kids are trying to survive a pandemic. Cancel state
testing for their mental health!” – @anovohistory.
Standardized Testing Isn’t Accurate
“State testing needs to be cancelled because:
Standardized testing has never been an accurate measure of a students abilities.
Testing students during a pandemic is detrimental to their mental health.
There is no equitable way to administer a standardized test in an inequitable environment.
Education should be student centered, not data centered.” – @gotmyteacherfaceon.
Measurement Should be Holistic
Focus on Authentic Learning
“State testing needs to be cancelled because it’s time to focus on authentic learning experiences.
Research shows that standardized testing narrows the curriculum, decreases the richness and student
ownership of learning experiences, and leads to overall lower levels of long term understanding. For
too long, testing has been used to punish and rank schools, teachers, and students, harming the most
vulnerable. While this pandemic has proved to be one of the greatest challenges schools have faced,
it also provides us with the opportunity to do better by our students.” – @readitwriteitlearnit.
They Don’t Need More Pressure
“State testing needs to be canceled because schools in areas that have been hit the hardest by the
pandemic are still fully remote. Too many of these students still do not have reliable WiFi. When they
can log in to class, they should connect and learn instead of being pressured to produce unreliable and
unnecessary data.” – @teachergohome.
This is NOT a Normal School Year
“1. Standardized tests do not accurately assess the knowledge of my students.
2. This is NOT a normal school year.
3. We should prioritize enriching and engaging lessons for our students, not teaching to a test.
4. This is NOT a normal school year.
5. Students should not be subjected to the monopoly that was created due to the test.
6. This is NOT a normal school year.
7. Students and teachers mental health should be prioritize.
8. This is NOT a normal school year.
9. Teachers should be treated as true professionals who will determine if their students are
prepared for the next grade level.
10. This is NOT a normal school year!
11. Our students brains should not determine a school districts funding from the government.
12. This is NOT a normal school year.
While the data collected from standardized tests are not accurate pictures of what our students know,
if students test this year, it will show accurately,
-That our students are dealing with a lot this year. A pandemic, social unrest, rioters storming the
capital and the very essence of our democracy threatened, political division, adults that are
supposed to be running the country in all aspects acting like children bickering, a Texas
Snowpocalypse, remote learning, in person learning with many restrictions, the death of loved ones
from Covid.
-That teachers need to be valued professionals, respected, and supported.
-That public education should be funded appropriately and valued.
– That online learning is not the same as face to face, in person learning and anyone trying to move
that direction is setting our country up for failure.” – @connershistorycorner.
It Wastes Time and Money
“State testing needs to be canceled because it is a waste. We don’t have the time to waste on testing
– as a teacher I would spend over 2 weeks administering state exams each spring. We don’t have the
money to waste on testing. School budgets are being slashed and we are spending 10s of millions of
dollars on tests.
⏰💰” – @teachingeternity.
Let’s Extend Grace
“It’s time to cancel state testing. This year we told kids you are more than a score that they
mattered and yet we will bring them back to a classroom to test? Think about equity, resources, and
the challenges so many students faced and continue to face. This is not the year, this is not the
time.” – @mrsotogo.
It’s Educational Malpractice
“We teach our kids to value diversity. We celebrate it. We value equity. We see it in our classrooms
every day.
But we still have a problem.
Our state standards lack diversity which means the educational system itself does not reflect our
values.
How do we expect children to engage and invest in education when the system lacks representation? And
truth.
How do we expect young women to be inspired when we continue to dominate the landscape with the
history of white men?
Why are we not rewriting standards that reflect our values?
When we deny diversity in education it is educational malpractice and we need to demand change.
👇🏻 what would you like to see in the standards / or textbooks that are consistently being left
out?” – @education_with_davison.
We’ve Lost Enough Time
“Teachers and students have overcome so many battles since March of 2020. Everyone has. We are
fighting every. single. day. to make up time we’ve lost 🕑
All we want is to continue teaching our kids. Please 💗” – @shullsbookshelf.
Standardized Tests Are Inequitable
– @msschaake.
Kinesthetic Learners Have Struggled
“State testing needs to be canceled because the students who learn with their hands had difficulties
with online learning this year.” – @anshribli.
It Ignores Students’ Social Emotional Needs
“We need to cancel state testing this year. Time is better spent helping students recover from a very
difficult year.” – @middleschoolcafe.
Standardized Tests Are Racially Biased
“State testing needs to be cancelled because standardized tests are racially bias.
Links in my profile to articles that support this. Tag your governor, law makers, and teacher
unions.” – @anovohistory.
Prioritize Student and Educator Mental Health
“🙄 I have to admit I was so disappointed to hear that states are expected to go along with state
testing like things are normal.
🛑 But stop… things are NOT normal.
🧠 We NEED to prioritize student AND educator mental health. Kids deserve it and educators deserve
it.
✏ I rallied behind this idea last year and I will continue to advocate now. We need to cancel state
testing this year. Let me know if you agree.” – @pathway2success1.
We Need Time to Teach
“breaking out my teacher face for this rant…
State testing needs to be cancelled because I have already spent TWENTY TWO instructional hours this
school year administering standardized testing OVER ZOOM. My admin have carved out 14 MORE hours in
April for iLEARN, and I’ll have to administer NWEA taking up another 6 hours in May. The state is
requiring that we do iLEARN in person. Yep. You read that right. At the beginning of this school
year I had 29 virtual students. I have fewer now, but I know many teachers are working with higher
numbers still. All of my students will have to come into my classroom, where they can ~maybe~ be 2
feet apart, for 7 days of testing, even though their families opted for e-learning to keep them safe
this year.
There are MANY reasons iLEARN should be cancelled (like, forever, but especially right now). We need
to value students’ well being over useless data. Teachers already collect data and use formal and
informal assessments throughout the school year. AND I NEED TIME TO TEACH.” – @teachingwithteej.
Testing Never Measures True Abilities
“State testing needs to be cancelled because…
- This school year has been ANYTHING but standard.
- Standardized tests NEVER measure the true abilities of students.
- We’re in the middle of a PANDEMIC.” – @mstangteaches.
Students. Are. Humans.
“State testing needs to be canceled because the tests, which are inequitable and racially biased even
in a normal year, will yield even less significant data in a year of inconsistent instruction. Some
students are in the building, some are at home, some are shuttling back and forth, and some aren’t
checking in at all. We’re still in a pandemic, friends! Our students are still juggling feelings of
anxiety, stress, isolation, and fear. And now we want to toss a standardized test at them, too?
I hear the argument that we need to see the educational impact of the pandemic. But the humans in our
room and on our zoom calls are more important than a data point. They’re more important than the
content and skills we want them to master. And their mental health matters.” – @choice_voice_teach.
It’s Culturally Biased
“State testing needs to be canceled because it’s culturally biased, centering the dominant &
privileged groups and we are surviving a global pandemic. It’s as if to shame students for not being
enough when we do not take into consideration the social structures that impact marginalized
students.” – @clasedecalvillo.
Our Students Are Worth More
“How do we still NOT understand this? We’ve known that standardized tests of all kinds have been
proven to be inequitable measures of student learning for a very long time now. So why have we
regressed back into this old way of thinking? I was hoping the pandemic would help us learn and
embrace new, better forms of student achievement, but here we are. Again.” – @mudandinkteaching.
They’ve Learned Bigger Lessons
“THIS. ALL OF THIS. 👏🏼
We have officially started “testing season” here in Florida, which means our calendar is filled with
test prep from now through May.
Our students deserve better. 💔” – @_reyesrules.
It Does Not Truly Measure Growth
“Standardized tests do not truly measure growth and knowledge. We need to cancel state testing this
year. We must do better in the midst of a global pandemic.” – @anovohistory.
There Are Better Ways to Learn
State testing needs to be canceled because… for too long prepping for state testing means taking time
away from courses and lessons in social studies and history. The skills and knowledge students learn in
these classes are essential to making well-rounded and informed citizens. They will also be the citizens
who vote you in or out of office and vote on policies that will impact you.” – @teaching_historyinheels.
Kids Before Content
“To quote the great Moira Rose, “I have never heard someone say so many wrong things, one after the the
other, consecutively, in a row.”
For months now, we’ve been discussing the importance of social, emotional, and mental health for our
students. We’ve been focusing on helping them navigate a global pandemic to the best of our abilities,
something that was not covered in our preservice education courses.
State testing needs to be cancelled. The tests are full of racial bias and will only cause more
anxiety, fear, and stress for our students and our teachers. This entire year has been inequitable
for many and we cannot fairly see where “children are left behind”.
@potus, in your campaign you promised
us that you would eliminate standardized testing. Now is the time to act. Now is the time to reevaluate
and change the direction of our education system.” – @teachingintheflx.
No Data Is Better Than Bad Data
”Cancel the dang tests.
***
Hi, me again. With more opinions.
***
It’s WILD to me that states are even thinking standardized testing this year. WILD. Let me say it
again. W-I-L-D.
***
Nothing has been normal about this year, so why should we administer standardized tests and act like
they are?! Not only do standardized tests take up obscene amounts of time (25 hours just to GIVE the
test), but this year the data will be inaccurate and unhelpful. Yet, if it’s collected people will
still attempt to use this data to make decisions. Which is at best irresponsible and at worst
dangerous. Make it make sense!” – @smarterteaching.
We Should Use Our Time Wisely
“State testing needs to be canceled because… many students haven’t been in the school building since
March 2020 & when we return we shouldn’t use that time to proctor a racially biased test!
…we should use our time with students to actually close achievement gaps and measure achievement in
more holistic & meaningful ways.
…students are more than a score on a test.
…we are in a PANDEMIC!” – @shannons_fitish_life.
They Don’t Tell The Whole Story
“It’s been almost one year since the start of this wild Covid-19 ride. When reflecting on this journey,
we’ve come such a long way. Students have learned a new way of learning while we’ve learned a new way of
teaching.
Along the way they’ve been faced with unprecedented event after unprecedented event….however, they
continue to show up. We continue to teach and they continue to learn.
Am I where I normally am in the curriculum this time on a normal year? Nope. Have my students learned
more in life than most 6th graders? Yup. Will the state assessment take into consideration all of the
extenuating circumstances of this year? Nope.
I’m proud of my students. I’m proud of my colleagues. We don’t need the pressure of the state assessment
bearing down on educators and students.” – @illuminating_literacy.
The Cons Outweigh the Pros
“Cancel standardized tests/state tests.
RACIST: As Young Whan Choi, Manager of Performance Assessments Oakland Unified School District in
Oakland, California, explains, “Too often, test designers rely on questions which assume background
knowledge more often held by White, middle-class students. It’s not just that the designers have
unconscious racial bias; the standardized testing industry depends on these kinds of biased questions in
order to create a wide range of scores.”
CLASSIST: as Eloy Ortiz Oakley, MBA, Chancellor of California Community Colleges, points out, “Many
well-resourced students have far greater access to test preparation, tutoring and taking the test
multiple times, opportunities not afforded the less affluent… [T]hese admissions tests are a better
measure of students’ family background and economic status than of their ability to succeed” (this
is talking more about the SAT and other standardized tests, but could be applied to this as well
when we think about kids that have been tutored on how to take tests).
SEXIST: Girls tend to do less well than boys and perform better on questions with open-ended answers,
according to a 2018 study by Stanford University’s Sean Reardon, which found that test format alone
accounts for 25 percent of the gender difference in performance in both reading and math.
Researchers hypothesize that one explanation for the gender difference on high-stakes tests is risk
aversion, meaning girls tend to guess less.”
All info is from: https://standardizedtests.procon.org which gives some of the pros and the cons.
These cons HEAVILY outweigh the pros.” – @makingastatementinsped.
How Is This Good for Students?
“State testing needs to be cancelled because we’re all just being set up for failure. Teaching and
learning has not been standard so there’s really no way a standardized test can be appropriate. How
is this testing good for students?” – @mrsspanglerinthemiddle.
There Are Better Ways to Spend Money
“State testing needs to be cancelled because…
1️⃣Mental health > Test Scores
2️⃣Student at home + students at school = equity issues
3️⃣Inconsistent Instruction. Enough said.
4️⃣Standardized tests do not truly measure student growth (in this year, or any year).
5️⃣There are so many better ways we could spend 1.7 BILLION dollars a year.” – @giraffic_jam_tpt.
Let’s Be Honest…
“LET’S BE HONEST”
I understand that standardized assessments give stakeholders an idea of where a child, school, and district
are performing.
HOWEVER…..
State testing needs to be canceled because in school, every year and especially this year, teachers
differentiate their instruction in order to meet kids where they are. If we as teachers differentiate to
each student, why are students receiving a standardized test to show what they know? A standardized
assessment does not measure what a child, school, and district have learned. Normally, the negatives are
what’s highlighted.” – @tawnimaikalani.
They’ve Been Through Enough
“Our kids are living through a pandemic. You can’t say their social emotional health is important and then
force them to take these tests!” – @teachingbelle.
Learning Isn’t One Size Fits All
“State testing needs to be canceled because… There should not be a one size fits all measurement of
student learning for a system that pushes differentiated instruction. Testing takes away time from
valuable instructional minutes, aka the learning that testing is supposed to measure…Testing is
stressful for students and teachers.
We should focus on student (and teacher) mental health, rather than gauging how much they have lost. Some
have lost more than others. They don’t need to demonstrate that for anyone. They know, and we know. They
will be ok, as long as we provide them with the support they need and eliminate added stressors, like
unnecessary tests!” – @adhdteach.
Kids Should Come First
<”State testing needs to be canceled. FULL STOP. Throughout this pandemic, the inequities that exist
in our education system have been even more glaring. To force students to complete testing would add
more trauma to the laundry list of experiences that students have had to deal with in the past year.
Here in NYC, we have not met the most basic needs of students by even ensuring that all students have
access to WiFi and adequate devices to keep up with their learning- to say nothing of the trauma of
watching families and loved ones struggle with their health, their well-being, and their ability to stay
financially afloat. We cannot expect students to learn when their most basic needs aren’t being met.” –
@thereaderreport.
It’s What’s Best for Kids
“I could go on and on and list all the reasons why state testing is unfair, inequitable, and damaging to kids
(and educators) who are all doing the best we can while trying to cope with the very real trauma of this last
year, but it all boils down to this. We need to cancel state testing this year because it’s what’s best for
kids.
Do we need to do everything in our power to help students move forward in their educational pursuits?
Absolutely. Standardized testing does not give us what we need to do that.
Not administering these standardized tests will give me as an educator the time to measure achievement in more
innovative, holistic, and meaningful ways. Ask me how many days a year on average I lose of instructional time —
time that could be spent building stronger relationships and providing more purposeful and individualized
support — to standardized testing. I need that time now, more than ever.” – @misskellerabc.
Vast Inequalities Exist In Education
”TRUST ME-We do NOT need a state wide test to further show us the VAST inequalities that exist within
education
.
INSTEAD, let me have every precious moment of instructional time I have left with my students to further our
learning and the building of relationships
.
Cancel. The. Tests.” – @historyfromthemiddle.
Resilience Cannot Be Tested
“State testing needs to be cancelled because RESILIENCE cannot be tested. 💪 Students have learned so many
lessons this past year that could never be assessed on a standardized test.” – @mrsorman.
We’re All Just Trying to Survive
“There are SO MANY reasons why state testing should be cancelled. I’ve never been a fan of all the testing we
force students to go through, but doing it during a PANDEMIC is just irresponsible.” – @rempsroom.
It’s Disruptive
– @tchrmom29.
Mental Health Is More Important
“State testing needs to be canceled! There are so many reasons standardized tests need to be canceled,
especially this year. The federal gov’t has stated that they need the data to see where the students really
are from this pandemic. I would rather write you an in depth report from my professional knowledge in the
field I teach in than subject my 12 & 13 year old students to multiple days of testing that are
overwhelming even on their best days.” – @medsger_recs_and_rolls.
It Makes Anxiety Worse
“Just one of many reasons.
We will waste class time preparing for this test, even though I haven’t even seen my students in person yet
this year. Instead of meaningful assignments that show their understanding of concepts, we’ll spend time
practicing multiple choice tests. Rather than spending time getting to know them as learners, we’ll get to
know how to use the testing software.” – @elawithmskelly.
We Need That Time With Students
“State testing needs to be cancelled this year. There are SO many reasons to cancel state testing, but here are
two I’d like to highlight:
* It would be detrimental to our students’ mental health & that should matter more than a test score. We
have already asked so much of our students this year.
* We need more time this year to ACTUALLY TEACH. It takes a tremendous amount of time, effort, & energy to
administer these tests. That time would be better spent on teaching, not testing.” – @middleschoolforever.
Students Are Experiencing Trauma
“State testing needs to be canceled because…
⭐students are experiencing trauma this year, and forcing this testing on them is only going to exacerbate
their mental health struggles. $1.7 billion per year is spent on state testing…let’s put that money toward
actually helping kids
⭐standardized tests are racially biased
⭐we should not be wasting class time on prep and testing when we are concerned about loss of instruction. This
year has been inconsistent for everyone…what would this even measure?
⭐we are in a global pandemic! Why does any of this matter?” – @readwritejess.
Plus, check out New Study Shows Students
Learning Online Are More Stressed Than Their In-Person Classmates.
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