Trump Administration Waives ESSA Testing Requirements, Eases Student Loan Payments
March 20, 2020
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Trump Administration “moved to waive federal requirements for standardized tests for students in kindergarten through 12th grade and gave borrowers with student loans the option of suspending payments.” Those with federal student loan debt can request a postponement of payments for at least 60 days. All borrowers, “regardless of whether they choose to postpone their payments,” will see their interest rates set at zero for at least 60 days. The administration is also waiving federal ESSA requirements “for standardized tests for K-12 students because the coronavirus pandemic has forced most schools in the country to close.”