Thousands of Migrant Students Exempt from Standardized Testing, Straining Colorado's Education System
Written by: Joe Gomez
In a move that has raised concerns among parents, thousands of migrant students in Colorado schools will now be exempt from mandatory standardized testing this spring, according to new guidelines issued by the Colorado Department of Education.
The decision to exempt these students from standardized testing comes as overwhelmed school districts across the state face an unprecedented influx of non-English speaking students who have recently arrived from the southern border.
Educators and staff have voiced their concerns about the challenges they face in providing education to such a large number of migrant students, making it highly unlikely for them to perform well on standardized tests conducted in English.
Several districts, including Denver, Aurora, Cherry Creek, Greeley, Adams 12, Jeffco, and Mapleton, reported enrolling more than 5,600 newcomer students after the October count, underscoring the strain on Colorado's education system, according to Chalkbeat.
Denver Public School leaders have informed their school board that the majority of students new to the country will fall under the exempt category, thus not being required to take the standardized tests.
Under previous guidelines, Colorado students who were identified as "new to the country" and had limited proficiency in English were already exempt from standardized English reading and writing tests for their first year of school. However, they were still expected to take standardized math and science tests with accommodations.
With the new guidance, students who are “new to the country,” have limited English fluency, enrolled after the October count, and had limited or interrupted schooling before arriving can now also skip the math and science tests.
The spring testing window in Colorado begins on April 8, after most districts return from spring break.
Critics argue that exempting migrant students from standardized testing adds to the strain on Colorado's already struggling education system. With limited resources and a significant language barrier, educators face an uphill battle in providing quality education to both migrant and non-migrant students. Standardized tests serve as a crucial measure of academic progress and can help identify areas where additional support is needed.
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As Colorado grapples with this exemption policy, it remains to be seen how it will impact the overall educational outcomes and the state's ability to address the challenges posed by the influx of migrant students.
The discussion surrounding the balance between accommodating migrant students and maintaining educational standards is likely to continue as Colorado's education system navigates a problem it didn’t ask for.