ALBANY, N.Y. -- The New York State United Teachers union today called on the U.S. Secretary of Education to waive state testing mandates for children in grades 3-8 for this school year and the duration of the coronavirus pandemic.

“This is not the time to create more stress for our kids,” NYSUT President Andy Pallotta said. “It is critical that the federal government step up now and waive mandated state testing for all kids for the rest of this school year and the duration of this crisis.”

NYSUT has been working with the state Education Department and state Board of Regents to make sure schools aren’t penalized and testing mandates are waived.

Even if schools reopen in April, students wouldn’t have enough time to prepare, which would be a huge disadvantage and would affect the test results, NYSUT officials said. It also would create more stress for kids, NYSUT said.

The state education has said ELA tests for grades 3 through 8 aren’t being mailed out to schools due to the coronavirus closures statewide.

NYSUT represents more than 600,000 members.

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