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AZ Governor Speaks Out: Spring K12 Assessments are Part of COVID-19 Recovery
ARIZONA GOVERNOR DUCEY: “Parents should have a basic understanding of how their school delivered for their children during this unprecedented year.”
In a recent interview, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey doubled down on his commitment to his state’s annual standardized test as a means of better understanding the impact of COVID-19. “Data from the statewide assessment is among our most valuable tools,” he said.
The Republican governor signed an executive order on Feb. 15 requiring the administration of AzM2—the successor to AzMERIT—Arizona’s statewide achievement test that tracks English language arts and math performance.
In his order, he notes that “Parents should have a basic understanding of how their school delivered for their children during this unprecedented year.” The Republican governor’s order preceded an announcement by President Joe Biden’s administration to refrain from issuing blanket waivers of federally required, annual statewide assessments. Governor Ducey agreed to answer some questions about this issue.
Read Governor Ducey’s answers below or download the full Q&A here.
About the Collaborative for Student Success
At our core, we believe leaders at all levels have a role to play in ensuring success for K-12 students. From ensuring schools and teachers are equipped with the best materials to spotlighting the innovative and bold ways federal recovery dollars are being used to drive needed changes, the Collaborative for Student Success aims to inform and amplify policies making a difference for students and families.
To recover from the most disruptive event in the history of American public schools, states and districts are leveraging unprecedented resources to make sure classrooms are safe for learning, providing students and teachers with the high-quality instructional materials they deserve, and are rethinking how best to measure learning so supports are targeted where they’re needed most.