Not all Colorado students will be required to take statewide assessments this year after the U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday approved the state education department’s request to forgo them this year. 

Traditionally, 95% of Colorado students are required to take the end of the year assessments, but this requirement was waived as a part of the request. In conjunction, the state will not be required to report the results to the federal education department. 

In return, the state is required to make data of chronic absenteeism and student and or teacher access to technology devices and high-speed internet publicly available. 

“It remains vitally important that parents, educators, and the public have access to data on student learning and success,” wrote Ian Rosenblum, deputy assistant secretary for policy and programs at the U.S. DOE. 

The Colorado Department of Education submitted a waiver to the U.S. DOE requesting permission to partially waive state assessment requirements last month.

Their request also included reducing the number of tests students would take and eliminate the science test that would be administered in the spring.

Traditionally, state education departments are required to submit information regarding academic achievement and growth in English language arts and mathematics, English language proficiency for English learners, graduation rates and school quality or student success data as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act. 

Although the state was granted a waiver this year, the general practices will resume next school year, according to the release.

Last month, the Colorado General Assembly passed legislature House Bill 1161, which suspended statewide tests for certain students. Gov. Jared Polis has since signed the bill into law.