GMSD names Dr. Heather Fisher as the Principal of the Germantown Online Academy for Learning (GOAL) and ShaMira Davis as the Principal of Houston Middle School.
Growing anger against Biden administration’s mandate for standardized tests during pandemic
Last month, President Biden’s Acting Assistant Education Secretary Ian Rosenblum sent a letter to state education administrators instructing them that standardized tests had to be administered to students in some form this spring, summer or fall.
Rosenblum whose previous job was executive director of the Education Trust-New York, a pro-standardized testing and pro-business organization said states could delay the tests but they could not be canceled like last spring and they have to be conducted as soon as possible. The spring testing window for state tests, including the PSAT and SAT, typically given to high school juniors and seniors preparing for college, has already started in the United States.
Gov. Murphy implements new policies for 2020-21 school year
Gov. Phil Murphy has signed Executive Order No. 214 to affect the following changes for the 2020-21 school year in the Garden State:
⢠Waiver of the graduation assessment test requirement for any 12th grade student who has satisfied all other statutory graduation requirements;
⢠Removal of Student Growth Objectives (SGOs) as a component of formal educator evaluations;
⢠Extension of the time in which certificated teachers or those in the process of becoming certificated teachers can serve as substitute teachers.
âThe (coronavirus) pandemic has presented significant challenges to school districts across our state that have affected our administrators, educators, staff and students,â Murphy was quoted as saying in a press release. âThis executive order will provide sensible adjustments to support our school districts during this unprecedented time.â