BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — In Massachusetts, Governor Charlie Baker has called for all elementary schools to return to in-person learning next month, which is likely to be a big adjustment for most students.
As a result, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents is calling for the spring MCAS exams to be scrapped.
For many students in Massachusetts, it's been a year since they've been in the classroom.
"It's not that we're opposed to MCAS testing, that's not the issue for us at all," said Tom Scott, the executive director of the Mass Association of School Superintendents.
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He adds, students won't need the MCAS exams this spring, instead they'll need more time to reacclimate to in-person leaning.
"It's going to take a good deal of time for students to come back and renew relationships with each other and for them to be comfortable in a school setting," said Scott.
He said the extensive time MCAS exams require for students, isn't right under these circumstances.
Scott adds schools have their own diagnostic tools for assessing learning loss and social and emotional issues because of the pandemic. He wants MCAS testing put on hold until the fall and wants the state to ask for a federal waiver to do that.
Lawmakers including Senator Ed Markey have signed a letter asking for the waiver. In addition, there is also a bill in the state legislature that would cancel this year's MCAS exams.
WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) Reports
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