The Abington Board of School Directors on Aug. 12 approved the districtwide assessment program for the 2025–26 school year, with a stipulation that parents and guardians be provided written notification of each assessment’s name and purpose.
The motion, as read into the record, grants representational consent for the list of assessments attached to the addendum, specifying grade levels and purposes and requiring prior notification to parents. The measure passed on a roll call with one abstention.
Why it matters: Districtwide assessments shape classroom time and instruction. Board members and administrators discussed concerns about the number of assessments and staff described work to consolidate testing and reduce duplicate measures.
Discussion and examples
Board members asked whether the new list was produced after reviewing the number of assessments students receive; administrators said many items on the list are required and that the district is working to consolidate testing into unit exams or to replace multiple measures with a single instrument.
Dr. Viola of the teaching-and-learning department (summarized in the meeting) gave an example: in grades K–5 the district will use the newly adopted Amplify CKLA reading program, which will replace i-Ready Reading and Acadience Reading in those grades. Board members expressed support for monitoring student progress while reducing testing time.
Vote and next steps
The board approved the assessment program; one board member recorded an abstention. Administrators will notify parents and guardians in writing in advance of assessments and will continue to refine assessment schedules to limit instructional disruptions.
Ending
Administrators said they will track the implementation of the assessment plan and report back on consolidation efforts and any adjustments requested by teachers or parents.