WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says the Department of Education will not enforce standardized testing requirements for students in elementary through high school for the current year.
In the wake of COVID-19, school across the country have closed their doors and been required to teach classes online, making it increasingly difficult to teach and prepare students for the standards of learning tests.
On Thursday, superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane today directed Virginia Department of Educations staff to prepare an application to the DOE for a statewide waiver from federal requirements related to the state's SOL testing.
Henrico county teacher Deanna Fierro said that the move is smart given the current situation.
“It’s just to difficult with our kids being out right now and trying to do everything virtually," Fierro said.
President Trump also said that his administration also has temporarily waived all interest on federally held student loans and he says he's directed Education Secretary Besty DeVos to tell federal lenders to allow borrowers to suspend their student loans and loan payments, without penalty for at least the next 60 days.