State and federal education officials are allowing Newtown students to skip standardized testing because of the school shootings that killed 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December.
The state Board of Education and state lawmakers voted on Wednesday to approve measures allowing Newtown children in grades 3 through 8 to skip the Connecticut Mastery Tests that are being administered statewide this month.
Newtown officials had requested the unprecedented, one-time waiver, citing the trauma suffered by students and staff from the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
State officials said the U.S. Department of Education has granted Newtown a one-year waiver of federal student assessment requirements.
State Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor said the waiver is a way to provide some relief from the tragedy.
State, Feds Allow Newtown Students to Skip CMT Tests
Copyright AP - Associated Press
