Standardized testing is happening for students this year.

It’s something the federal government hopes will reveal the pandemic’s impact on education.

The decision by President Joe Biden wasn’t expected considering school officials from the Hudson Valley and across the state have been urging the federal government to hold off on standardized testing this year.

As the pandemic throws a curveball at standard learning, the government wants to know where students stand in their education. 

The tests will look different though. They’ll be shorter, students can take them remotely, they can be taken later in the year and results will not be used to evaluate schools. 

Grades 3-8 are scheduled to take two state assessments while high schoolers must take three Regents - the English, math and science exams. 

Local school officials have been adamantly against standardized tests this year saying that it’s a waste of resources.  "The dollars that have been earmarked for standardized assessments, yes they should go to tests -- tests for COVID-19. So, that schools that haven't been open all year can finally welcome their children back," says White Plains Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Ricca.

A spokesperson for the State Department of Education issued this statement, saying: “We are disappointed by this decision, we are examining all possible options.”

The president of the New York United Teachers Union is weighing in saying, “In a year that has been anything but standard, mandating that students take standardized tests just doesn’t make sense.”

While educators are trying to push testing back to next fall, elementary school students could begin taking their tests as soon as this April.