Madison Contreras

Writer

Having extended its reach to all areas of life, COVID-19 has insurmountably affected the way schools administer testing.

After students across the nation were sent home in March during the 2019-20 school year, the Oklahoma State Department of Education waived all testing for schools across the state.

These include, but are not limited to, the Oklahoma Core Curriculum Testing (OCCT) for third, fifth and eighth grade students; the College and Career Readiness Assessment (CCRA) for high school juniors; and the American College Testing (ACT).

Among waived tests, are exemptions, such as, but not limited to, the class of 2024 not having to prove literacy to obtain a drivers’ license and the class of 2021 not having to take the CCRA to earn a diploma.

Also affected through waived tests, the state-paid ACT with writing for the class of 2021 will remain waived, due to students being out of school and lost funding during the pandemic.

While the WorldBank has set the percentage of students who will not attain basic learning structures at 40-50%, the Marlow Public School District is focused on assessing where students are located currently in their academic career to assure excellence in their peers.

Speaking on assessments being used at Marlow Elementary School, Assistant Superintendent Brenda Parker-Tillian discussed Calvert Learning, a part of the governor’s program for making up lost instruction time. 

“We have added some assessment curriculum that will measure in great detail and will show you exactly where students are academically,” said Parker-Tillian. “It absolutely shows where they are, and then it quickly gets them up on level. If they are on level, it quickly accelerates them right on. It will get them ready for assessments and move them on to the next level.”

As many students across Marlow, Oklahoma, and the nation are getting back up to speed with their learning, the 2020-21 school year is said to be “as usual” in terms of testing, as of now.

Therefore, the OCCT, CCRA and ACT will be given, along with the goal of having the Oklahoma Academic Standards  (OAS) met throughout the year.

With the 2020-21 school year set to be “business as usual,” this also allows for district mandated testing such as a pre-ACT for the Marlow class of 2023 and a Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT).

Also countering the missed opportunity of taking a state-paid-for ACT, MHS is offering a discounted ACT on October 6th.

With school districts across the globe adjusting to the new normal, Parker-Tillian said it best, “The only thing we can keep holding on to… we’re all in this together. It’s not just Marlow. It’s everywhere.”