GCS Plans In-person Testing To Assess Impact Of Pandemic On Learning

The Guilford County School district is partnering with a national group to assess learning loss during the pandemic.

Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) will measure student academic progress.

Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras says since schools closed to in-person learning, the district hasn't had a reliable way to measure student skills in reading and math. The assessment will be used to inform instruction, personalize learning, and monitor the growth of individual students.

Kids will take a computer-adaptive test, which means if a student answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier, allowing them to perform at their current level.

The tests will be administered in-person, but students will have the ability to be remote if needed.

Grades K-2 will begin testing the week of December 8. Students in grades 3 through 10 will do so after the winter break.

This comes as 40% of GCS students failed at least one course during the first quarter of this school year. That's compared to 29% during the same time last year.

Earlier this week, state education officials released some alarming pandemic data to lawmakers. They say fewer students could graduate and more students may have to repeat the school year. Absences are also up, and enrollment is down in public schools by more than 50,000 students.

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