Councilmember Eric Dinowitz, who spearheaded the letter, argued that a computer-based testing mandate contradicts the city's recent efforts to limit technology use in classrooms. The city has banned individual digital devices for students in pre-K through second grade and recommended screen time limits for older students.
"A computer-based testing mandate creates pressures for additional screen exposure and technology practice even when teachers and school systems are trying to move instruction in the opposite direction," Dinowitz wrote in the letter to State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa.
The State Education Department has indicated it is reviewing the request and will provide further information soon. This move could represent a significant reversal for state officials who have spent years implementing digital assessments, a transition that has faced challenges including technical glitches and concerns about student preparedness.
While state officials have previously promoted digital tests for their convenience and scoring efficiency, parents and educators have voiced concerns about the increasing presence of screens and technology in schools. The city's Department of Education has denied that state testing requirements influenced its own device policies.