The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is making changes to eliminate statewide standardized end-of-year testing for several subjects. This move aims to give “local control back to school districts.” Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, math and English courses in grades three through eight will no longer require standardized tests. Instead, districts in Oklahoma will be allowed to use approved benchmark assessments to report on students’ academic achievement and growth.
This change is expected to lessen the testing burden on both students and teachers, enabling teachers to concentrate more on classroom instruction rather than test preparation. OSDE ensures that the benchmark assessments will still adhere to federal and state protections for students with disabilities.
OSDE is also considering the possibility of eliminating standardized testing for science and history in the same grades in the future.
President Donald Trump has significantly reduced the federal Department of Education with the intent of eventually phasing it out completely. Following his executive order to dismantle the department and return its functions to the states, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon emphasized the bipartisan nature of returning education control to the states.
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, OSDE clarified its decision to remove standardized testing, citing a desire to shift control over performance away from teacher unions and relieve the burden on students and teachers.
After surveying Oklahoma parents on the matter, the department found that 86% of respondents agreed that standardized testing was unnecessary for evaluating student learning. Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, a Republican, expressed his support for returning power to the states and ultimately to Oklahoma families.
Walters emphasized the importance of moving away from outdated state tests and empowering local districts to ensure a high-quality education that is no longer dictated by external groups. Fox News Digital has reached out to various education associations for their input on this matter.
Peter Pinedo is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
