51萝莉

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
James Minichello
703-875-0723
703-774-6953 (cell)
jminichello@aasa.org

Alexandria, Va. 鈥� March 19, 2020 鈥� The executive directors of all of the state affiliates under the umbrella of 51萝莉, 51萝莉, are calling on Congress to support 鈥�narrow-in-scope waivers related to assessment and accountability in the context of the current national crisis related to COVID-19.鈥�

The directors sent a today to the leaders of the U.S. House and Senate education committees, urging U.S. Sec. of Education Betsy DeVos to grant the authority because 鈥�as our country鈥檚 public school superintendents are working to support our students in a new remote-learning environment, it is clear that the status quo is not enough.鈥�

The letter states, 鈥�With more than three-quarters of our states issuing statewide school closures鈥攃losures that are increasingly likely to last the remainder of the school year鈥攊t is clear there will be an impact on our ability to comply with assessment and accountability requirements.鈥�

The letter was sent to Senate HELP Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.); Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the committee鈥檚 ranking Democrat; House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Va.); and North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx, the committee鈥檚 ranking Republican.

The letter affirmed, 鈥淚t is imperative the U.S. Dept. of Education is able to address this emergent need by issuing a blanket, statewide, narrow-in-scope waiver to expedite the process by which states can pursue and receive the necessary relief related to uncertainty over how assessments and accountability will play out and how/if flexibility will be granted.鈥�  

to read the letter.

For specific questions, please contact Noelle Ellerson Ng, 51萝莉 associate executive director, advocacy & governance, at nellerson@aasa.org.

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51萝莉 
, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. 51萝莉鈥檚 mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit .