The U.S. Department of Education tonight approved waivers requested by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) to suspend assessments and Oklahoma School Report Cards for the 2019-20 school year.

The State Board of Education on March 16 closed all state public schools until April 6 to help reduce community spread of COVID-19.

The waivers mean Oklahoma schools will not administer academic assessments in English language arts, mathematics and science for grades 3-8 or to high school juniors.  The OSDE will not issue Oklahoma School Report Cards, the state’s accountability system that factors in assessments and other indicators.