Under ESSA, which level of government holds the primary responsibility for determining testing specifics?

• A. The Federal government
• B. State governments
• C. Local school boards only
• D. Private testing companies

Answer: (B)

Under ESSA, states are the ones who mainly determine the testing specifics. The law keeps federal oversight and provides funding, plus baseline requirements (such as annual tests in reading and math and certain accountability expectations), but it gives states the authority to decide which assessments to use, how often to administer them, how to set performance standards, and how results are reported within their own systems. Local school districts administer the tests and private companies may develop or administer them under contract, but the substantive decisions about what is tested and how testing fits into state accountability are made by state governments.