By Kelvin Butler and Crystal Gwizdala
SAGINAW – With the coronavirus shutting down schools, stores and shopping centers, K-12 students are taking a hit.
“I know there is a plan, but I don’t know what it is,” says Dawn Hutter, a math instructor at Arthur Hill High School. “Everything is changing daily.”
During this time, most high schools are studying for the ACT or the SAT. These are the tests that will get a student into the big four-year universities and qualify them for much-needed scholarships and opportunities, including eligibility for participating in college sports.
“At this point, the state required testing has been removed; therefore, we should still be able to be on target for learning,” says Hutter. “The state required testing usually takes about two weeks of school time at the end of the year.”
At this time, the SAT test has been canceled, along with all remaining standardized tests this school year, including M-STEP. The SAT is scheduled for October, for high school seniors.
“I hesitate to call this a negative impact on their education,” says Hutter. “I think part of education is learning to cope with unplanned and negative scenarios. […] Every adult who has a passion for education is trying to adapt to the changes so that our students will have the best education we can offer.”
Hutter advised students not to panic or worry, and to continue checking emails and listening to the advice of their counselors, particularly college and career counselors.