Control of Yearly State AssessmentResetswith Trump Administration
Montana made headlines in 2023 when it secured a waiver from federal officials to pilot its through-year testing system in some districts. This move was described as "very detailed and an incredible lift" by those involved in the process.
Unlike Oklahoma and Texas, Montana's through-year testing system allows districts to administer tests within eight-week windows, providing results to teachers and parents within a week. In contrast, Oklahoma is proposing a switch to testing students multiple times a year, a model known as through-year testing, while Texas is proposing letting districts choose their own test for two out of three administrations.
Oklahoma's state superintendent, Ryan Walters, has asked the federal government for permission to no longer use end-of-year, summative assessments for students. Meanwhile, Texas state lawmakers have sent a bill to Gov. Greg Abbott for a through-year model, testing students three times during the school year.
Montana's state superintendent, Susie Hedalen, has expressed gratitude for the current administration's willingness to offer more waivers. She acknowledged the challenges faced in training teachers to shift to the through-year testing model and fixing the assessments' length without sacrificing their reliability.
The U.S. Department of Education invites states to request flexibility from certain federal mandates as part of the Trump administration's pledge to "return education to the states." However, this flexibility comes with consequences. Under the proposed waiver, Oklahoma wouldn't have to follow federal requirements essential for reliable, uniform, school-by-school data on student performance.
Chris Domaleski, associate director of the Center for Assessment, has expressed concerns about testing students too much. He likened it to shortening a two-hour flight to multiple shorter flights, implying that the frequent testing could potentially lead to a loss of depth and accuracy in the assessments.
At least three states have already taken advantage of this opportunity, with Florida and Montana already using the through-year testing model. Oklahoma and possibly Texas could serve as "guinea pigs" for charting a new course in through-year testing, and their requests could serve as a signal for other states.
In early August, Walters announced districts this school year would be allowed to use "approved benchmark assessments" in place of the current, end-of-year standardized math and English tests. However, to adhere to federal regulations without seeking a waiver, the state's education department would have to develop a final assessment for statewide use and submit it for federal peer review.
As the debate over through-year testing continues, it remains to be seen how Oklahoma and Texas will navigate this new approach to student assessments and what impact it will have on education in these states.
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