Area administrators are unanimous in their support of the state education leader’s attempt to forego mandated testing if and when the school year resumes.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister announced Thursday that the State Department of Education plans to pursue a federal waiver to suspend statewide student assessments for the 2019-20 school year.

“It’s the right decision,” Dover Superintendent Max Thomas said. “The teachers would start where they left off in the curriculum.”

Hofmeister’s request comes during a time of increasing spread of the coronavirus, which earlier prompted the state Department of Education to shut down public schools until at least April 6.

“Oklahomans, like all Americans, are seeking to ‘flatten the curve’ of a global pandemic. Our foremost concern is ensuring our students and school communities remain as safe and healthy as possible,” Hofmeister said.

“Our educators and district leaders need to shift their focus from assessments to essential services, including child nutrition and planning to continue student learning through alternative delivery methods. Their priority cannot be with assessments that would be of questionable validity in the wake of a global pandemic. Assessments are very important tools, but they do not outweigh other considerations during this time of uncertainty.”

Okarche Superintendent Rob Friesen said approval of the request might bring some normalcy to the classroom once school resumes.

“We appreciate Superintendent Hofmeister’s efforts in the entire process of dealing with COVID-19 and would appreciate the waiver if it is approved,” Friesen said. “We are hopeful that things get back closer to normal and we are able to finish the school year in a normal fashion.”

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires each state to administer academic assessments in English language arts, mathematics and science in grades 3-8 as well as once in high school.

The U.S. Department of Education has indicated it would consider waiver requests from states with widespread closures related to the spread of COVID-19.

“I think it’s the right thing to do,” said Kingfisher Superintendent Jason Sternberger. “This break will just cause everyone’s stress level to go up even more if we have to return and immediately begin preparing for the assessments.”

Added stress is not something students and teachers need, according to Crescent Superintendent Bart Watkins.

“I definitely support the waiver. It takes the pressure off teachers and students with all the craziness in the world right now,” Watkins said.

The waiver request will also seek suspension of the Oklahoma School Report Card for the current school year.

Testing or not, area leaders say learning will be taking place once students are back at their desks.

“I believe our teachers focus on educating each student and do not worry about the test as much as some, but this waiver will definitely help us focus on the most important parts of the educational process,” Friesen said.

Sternberger and Lomega’s Steve Shiever said the state’s standards will still be the focus in the classroom.

“We will still teach the state standards,” said Shiever, now in his second year as Lomega’s superintendent. “But it does help our kids to pass this waiver because taking state-mandated tests without instruction would not give an accurate account of their ability.”

Added Sternberger: “We’ll be teaching the state standards and play catch-up for the amount of time we lost,” he said. “Teachers will still be teaching bell to bell.”

The same goes for Dover students and staff.

“We would expect business as usual with or without testing,” Thomas said.