LAURENS COUNTY, Ga. — It's been a little less than two weeks since Gov. Kemp and State School Superintendent Richard Woods said they'd seek a waiver suspending standardized testing in the upcoming school year.
But what would that mean for schools?
East Laurens High School graduate Mccain Bracewell had a tough time adjusting to remote learning at first.
"Going to online classes and having to learn by yourself...that is so difficult because in a classroom, you can ask your teacher questions, but at home you have to learn by yourself and you can't really ask your teachers as easily," she said.
She says the state's decision to waive standardized testing helped.
"I just feel like without Milestones it was a lot less stressful, I could just relax and not have to worry about it," Bracewell said.
The state sent out surveys asking districts whether they should waive them again for the upcoming school year.
Laurens County Schools Assistant Superintendent Otha J. Hall thinks it's a good idea.
"Not having these assessments for the FY21 year would give teachers a chance to focus on closing the gaps that may have been created from the abrupt [end of] face-to-face instruction ... back in March," Hall said.
Georgia Milestones and End-of-Course testing is used to collect information for the district's College and Career Readiness Performance Scores each year, and how it compares to other systems statewide.
"In Laurens County, testing typically takes about five days and now we'll be able to take that five days and add it back to learning, which will once again close the gaps that may have been added to this COVID-19 crisis," Hall said.
Hall says they'll still be able to collect data from their district-level tests to track student performance.
"Teachers are going to try to, now they'll be able to give in-house assessments that's going to allow them to see where each kids is and they're going to be able to focus on meeting the needs of those kids without the pressure of trying to finish up the standards to prepare for a standardized test at the end of the year," Hall said.
Hall encourages all parents, students and staff members to fill out the survey, which they've released on the district website. You can also find the link to the survey here.
It will be open until Friday, July 10 at midnight.
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