Jim Planck is reporting in The Daily Mail a recently granted federal waiver allowing New York State to stop double testing its accelerated math students is seen as a step forward at Catskill Central School District. Under the waiver, seventh and eight graders taking Algebra I or Geometry will no longer have to take the mandatory state assessment test in late spring. They can now sit for the Regents exams only, at the conclusion of the school year. Asked Mon., Jan. 6, about the change, Catskill Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Farrell, called the policy change beneficial. She said, “I think it’s a very positive step, and an acknowledgment by the state education department that we should only test when we need to test.” State Education Commissioner John B. King Jr., announced the federal Department of Education's decision, Thurs., Jan. 2. Read the full story in The Daily Mail.