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Let virtual kids test virtually

As a parent of a student at Iowa Virtual Academy in Marshalltown Iowa, I am writing to address a significant challenge facing virtual school students: the requirement for in-person state testing. This policy creates undue hardship for families and raises serious concerns about equity and access.

My child excels in virtual school; virtual school provides a personalized education tailored to fit a student’s individual needs, allowing them the room to thrive. However, the current testing policy requires travel to designated testing centers. This involves taking time off work, traveling over an hour and making arrangements for my son to get to school (he is in a brick-and-mortar school). This situation is not unique to our family, there are parents we have spoken to who had to drive over 4 hours and get a hotel just to be there. Another parent we meet is a single mother who had no vehicle; she had to pay an uber to travel over 2 hours round trip. For families with multiple children in virtual school, the logistical complexities are compounded, requiring multiple trips and further financial burdens. Travelling to test centers adds unnecessary stress to parents struggling financially, as well as the students testing.

Beyond the logistical challenges, in-person testing can pose particular difficulties for students with disabilities or medical needs. We have to mentally prepare our daughter; she struggles with test anxiety and does not work well in overstimulating environments. Ensuring appropriate accommodations and specialized care in unfamiliar testing environments can be problematic. Remote testing offers a more accessible solution, allowing students to test in the familiarity and comfort of their own homes, where they are best positioned to demonstrate their knowledge. The impact that the unfamiliar environment has on their performance is undeniable.

It is time for our state to modernize. There are ways to proctor tests remotely that are just as secure if not more so, than in person testing. The state can utilize webcams, screen monitoring and other tools that are already used for other high stakes examinations such as the LSAT and GRE. Remote testing will help students give back instruction time to teachers and reduce burdens on families. A win for everyone! I urge our state legislators to consider the significant advantages of remote testing and support HB.

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