Last week, Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters announced a proposal to majorly overhaul the state’s assessment system. Starting in the 2025–2026 school year, schools in grades 3–8 may opt out of federally mandated end-of-year standardized tests in math and English Language Arts. Instead, districts can use more flexible, benchmark assessments to track student progress in real time. The proposal, however, hinges on approval from the U.S. Department of Education and raises legal concerns over whether such a shift is even permissible under current law.
The timing of the proposal, including its proposer’s penchant for creating chaos and distractions, have earned a fair level of scrutiny.
OEA President Cari Elledge’s Response
OEA President Cari Elledge provided a strong statement emphasizing OEA’s longstanding opposition to one-day, high-stakes standardized tests. Her remarks underscored the need for personalized education and questioned whether the announcement timeline accounted for unintended consequences. She further criticized State Superintendent Walters for misrepresenting educators’ views rather than working collaboratively. Below is her full statement:
“As a 5th-grade teacher, I have seen first-hand the effects of standardized testing on Oklahoma students. These tests only serve as stressful, one-day snapshots in a single school year. They are not representative of a student’s true academic progress.
For decades, OEA has raised concerns about— and has advocated against— the pitfalls of standardized testing.
The timing of the announcement has earned a healthy amount of skepticism regarding whether proper steps were followed and if any unintended consequences have been considered.
The State Superintendent continues to misrepresent and vilify Oklahoma educators’ voices instead of collaborating with them. It is disappointing but not surprising.
We look forward to a day when students are allowed an individualized education and when educators no longer have to prioritize instructional time teaching to a standardized test.”
KOCO | “[OEA has argued] for decades against standardized testing”
News9 | “We’ll support anything that potentially reduces standardized testing for our students,” Elledge said. However, she cautioned that the legality and practicality of the changes are yet to be determined.