NYSUT Knocks Federal Testing Mandate PUBLISHED 10:18 AM ET Feb. 23, 2021 PUBLISHED 10:18 AM EST Feb. 23, 2021 SHARE President Joe Biden's administration wants a lower stakes environment for state standardized testing this year as the pandemic continues to upend schools and classroom instruction across the country. But the umbrella labor group that represents teachers in New York is not happy about the testing requirement for states. The New York State United Teachers, in a statement, knocked the move by the Biden administration over testing. The organization has previously backed a waiver of testing for students in grades 3 through 8, as well as high school testing requirements.