PHOENIX – Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Monday waiving the student letter grading system in schools this year, citing learning disruption because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ducey also signed an executive order that called on the Arizona State Board of Education to study data gathered from statewide student assessment testing, among other materials, to “identify the extent of learning loss that has occurred” during the COVID crisis.

House Bill 2402 “ensures students continue to be evaluated, so we can get them the help they need, while also recognizing this year is unique and provides some flexibility around the state’s A-F letter grade system,” Ducey said in a letter to Secretary of State Katie Hobbs.

A second suspension of the grading system would “necessitate a much greater level of justification,” Ducey added.

Meanwhile, the executive order comes less than two months before students are scheduled to take the AZMerit2 test beginning in April. They missed testing last year as schools across the state were closed in March as infections numbers began to rise.

“This data will then be used to ensure targeted and evidence-based strategies for acceleration,” Ducey said in the letter.

“This will ensure we continue to have accountability in our education system, so parents can make the best educational choice for their kids.”