Northam’s decision came as eighth-graders and high school students in the state were taking SOL writing tests.

In a news release, the Virginia Department of Education said it has already extended statewide testing windows for all SOL tests, but the agency is “planning for further flexibility.”

“Given what we are now hearing about the potential duration of the coronavirus pandemic, we now have to seek further flexibility related to state testing. To do this, the commonwealth must have relief from the annual testing requirements under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act,” Lane said. “Last week, the U.S. Department of Education said it would consider issuing waivers for individual schools impacted by COVID-19. We are beyond that now, and ask our federal partners for a process to grant statewide relief so states and schools can focus on the health and well-being of students.”

ESSA, the replacement for the controversial No Child Left Behind, requires annual testing in third through eighth grades in reading and math, while requiring states to test students in science at least once during elementary, middle and high school.