The NWEA Reading and Math will be taken from students’ homes this Fall 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic. This will be very different for the students of West Middle School. West has never done a big test like NWEA from home. Mr. Ruela, Plymouth-Cantons Executive Director for Middle Schools, Data, and School Improvement, is making sure the test will run smoothly at home.

Testing at home could make it easier for students to cheat. However, all students will be testing during a Zoom call students with their teachers. The students will have their camera on so teachers can see students. Mr. Ruela said, “NWEA has something built-in so it notifies the teachers when you are going to fast or slow.”

NWEA can have technical difficulties sometimes, Mr. Smiley, Principal of West Middle School said, “We are doing something called a zoom room where Mrs. Davies helps kids fix problems.” Mrs. Davies is the librarian at West and she will be available to help kids during the test. 

NWEA is important to take because it determines what classes you need next. It is a super important test and that’s why we are taking it from home. If the NWEA isn’t taken or a student cheats, the student could be put in the wrong class. Testing in quarantine might be a little different but it needs to be done.