State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters says the Oklahoma State Department of Education will allow school districts to use alternative benchmark assessments approved by the agency in place of current so-called “high-stakes” testing in math and English language arts in grades 3-8.
Walters cited an unscientific survey he conducted, which he said indicated 81% of almost 23,000 respondents said state testing isn’t necessary for evaluating student learning.
“By moving away from outdated state tests and empowering local districts, we’re reducing the burden on students, parents, and teachers while ensuring high-quality education that is no longer driven by bureaucrats or outside groups,” Walters said.
Walters, however, does not have the authority to unilaterally make such a decision. According to state law, “the State Board of Education shall adopt a statewide system of student assessments” that comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Walters is the chair of the board, which has seven members, six of whom are appointed by the governor. Walters and the four newest board members, appointed earlier this year, have clashed on multiple issues.
Also, another state agency, the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, “shall determine the cut scores for the performance levels on all statewide assessments.” In May, the commission re-set the cut scores – which measure student proficiency – to more closely align with national standards, after approving standards in 2024 that proved problematic.
“The (state Board of Education) and the Legislature needs to be involved in this,” said former state Rep. Mark McBride, a Republican from Moore who once chaired the Oklahoma House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee. “He can’t just wave his wand and make this happen. This would be the makings of something that we could possibly agree on, but it needs more thought put into it than what he’s put.
“We have way too much testing and we need to cut back on some of that. but he needs to bring some people in who know more about the testing than he does.”
(This is a developing story.)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma will drop statewide tests for grades 3-8, Ryan Walters says
