Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has announced a reduction in standardized testing for students in the commonwealth.

According to an Aug. 14 news release from the governor’s office, “The change to the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment will reduce the length of the tests by 20 percent in grades three through eight.”

Wolf commented on the change during a “Schools That Teach” tour stop at Susquehanna Middle School, Dauphin County, with state Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera.

“As I have traveled the commonwealth on the Schools That Teach tour, I have heard from parents, students and educators concerned about the amount of time devoted to taking standardized tests,” Wolf said. “This reduction will ease the stress placed on our kids, and will allow students and teachers to focus more on learning than on testing. This change should also reassure parents that we’ve listened to their concerns about over-testing.”

The news release states the reduction in test time arose from discussions between the education department and stakeholders for nearly a year as it developed its Every Student Succeeds Act Consolidated State Plan.

Beginning this school year, students and teachers in grades three through eight will spend an average of 20 percent less time on statewide testing, and an even greater reduction – nearly 25 percent – for Pennsylvania’s youngest students.

“A 20 percent reduction is a start, but not enough,” East Penn School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Schilder said in a prepared statement. “What I hear from parents and educators, and believe myself, is that conducting state testing on an annual basis is unnecessary and counter-productive. Reducing it to just certain grade levels, such as grades three, eight and 11 would make more sense. The off-test years could then be complemented with quality, district-designed assessments. This K-12 model would represent a more balanced approach to assessment, reflecting current research and common sense.”

“Any reduction in time our learners have to sit for standardized, fixed-response tests is a good thing,” Salisbury Township School District Superintendent Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss said. “However, I worry this is too little, too late. Instead of focusing on an outmoded system of accountability, I would encourage our state legislators and the Department of Education to develop assessment procedures and accountability systems that align with the knowledge, skills and dispositions our learners will need to be successful and productive members of our country and an economy that is shifting exponentially. The current model of assessment does not measure the broad range of skills most valued in the 21st century world of work and life. As the current assessments are not the most meaningful, Salisbury Township School District welcomes the reduction in testing.”

The state education department removed two sections – one in math, one in English language arts – and additional questions from the science section, which could eliminate up to two full testing days for some schools.

The math assessment will be shortened by 48 minutes for students in grades three through eight by removing a section of multiple choice questions.

The English language arts assessment will be shortened by 45 minutes and the science assessment will be shortened by 22 minutes.

Standardized tests are mandated under federal law, and can serve as important tools for schools to review their progress and achievement.

The news release stated that standardized tests not only interrupt learning, but can also be disruptive for students, even those in non-testing grades. The department plans to continue to identify ways to further reduce those disruptions in coming years.

Wolf has fought for Schools That Teach and has made investments in children and schools a top priority.

Over the past three years, Pennsylvania has:

•Increased state funding by more than $800 million at all levels after devastating cuts in the past that is bringing teachers back to the classroom and restoring educational programs.

•Established a fair funding formula to reduce the inequity in state support and taking Pennsylvania off a shameful list of states without a way to fairly fund their school. Pennsylvania was one of only three states in the nation without a fair funding formula.

•Doubled early childhood education access to provide nearly 8,800 more children access to Pre-K and Head Start programs to get a good start to their education.

•Increased graduation rates to among the highest in the nation for four-year high school from 85.5 percent in 2013-2014 to 86.1 percent in 2015-2016.

Additionally, 31 percent more students have earned industry-recognized credentials as Pennsylvania has become a national leader in STEM education, helping workers compete in the 21st century economy and build economic prosperity for working families.

Also this year, the department introduced the Future Ready PA Index, a new public-facing school report card that expands the indicators used to measure performance and extends the comprehensive approach to ensuring student and school success.

The index will place additional emphasis on academic growth, evaluation of school climate through a robust chronic absenteeism measure, attention to both four-year and extended-year graduation rates and assessments of postsecondary readiness.

Details about the PSSA reduction and the Future Ready PA Index are available in Pennsylvania’s ESSA Consolidated State Plan, on the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s website www.education.pa.gov.

The plan is open for public comment until Aug. 31.