New York State is canceling its statewide U.S History standardized test due to concerns that it contained content that could “compound student trauma caused” by the mass shooting in Buffalo.
In a tweet on Tuesday, the New York State Education Department wrote, “The New York State Education Department is committed to supporting our students and fellow community members following the heinous mass shooting in Buffalo.”
“Our experts determined that there is content on the new Regents Examination in U.S. History & Government (Framework) that has the potential to compound student trauma caused by the violence in Buffalo, which created an unexpected and unintended context for the planned assessment.
It added, “To appropriately support our students and their well-being in the wake of the tragedy in Buffalo, NYSED is canceling the June 2022 administration of the Regents Examination in U.S. History & Government (Framework).”
The New York State Education Department is committed to supporting our students and fellow community members following the heinous mass shooting in Buffalo. pic.twitter.com/I2Yz8mzWzR
— NYS Education Department (@NYSEDNews) May 24, 2022
To appropriately support our students and their well-being in the wake of the tragedy in Buffalo, NYSED is canceling the June 2022 administration of the Regents Examination in U.S. History & Government (Framework). More information here: https://t.co/MjxvD0b8SH
— NYS Education Department (@NYSEDNews) May 24, 2022
In a letter, Education Department Commission Betty Rosa explained that the history test was “developed by NYS-certified social studies teachers more than two years ago and field-tested to confirm that the exam’s content is educationally sound.”
However, she added, “The tragedy in Buffalo has created an unexpected and unintended context for the planned assessment.”
Rosa went on:
“It is not possible to produce a test with different content or to make modifications to the developed assessment in the short time period before the administration date.”
In the letter, Rosa did not specify what part of the test could “compound” trauma from the Buffalo shooting.
Earlier this month, a gunman opened fire in a Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo.
The shooting left 10 people dead, and 13 injured, and law enforcement officials say it was racially motivated.
Eleven of the 13 people shot were Black.
The 18-year-old suspect in the shooting allegedly posted a 180-page document that contained racist language.
According to The Washington Post, the suspect “fixated on the idea that White people are being intentionally replaced.”
“That idea, once relegated to the fringe, has gained currency on popular right-wing television programs and in the halls of Congress,” it explained.