We are in the middle of a pandemic. The children in Massachusetts haven’t been in a school building regularly since March of 2020. Most students are still being taught remotely. Some are in a hybrid model. None are in the classroom full time. Teachers are doing their best in this difficult environment. There is NO WAY the students should be expected to take MCAS tests this spring! The teachers and students are barely keeping their collective heads above water. How can we expect teachers to “teach to the test” this year?! The teachers need all of the time that they have available to catch children up academically! The children and teachers do need need this additional stress placed upon them this school year! Eliminate the MCAS test for 20-21. Furthermore the test should not resume until the dangers of the pandemic have passed. This is pure insanity. We need to understand that we are living in unprecedented times. How can you possibly expect our children to excel in this test when they are literally 7 months behind in their education. So please do the right thing and cancel MCAS for the 2020-2021 school year! Let’s do the right thing for our children! Adding more on their plate in these stressful times is completely unacceptable!