PANAMA — School districts are still going to need guidance from the state Education Department to proceed with third- through eighth-grade testing this spring.

On Monday, the state Board of Regents said only the first of two sessions of the third through eighth grade math and ELA tests will be required, a shift from the standard practice where the tests are administered in two sessions. It sounds cut-and-dried, but Emily Harvey, Panama Central School director of instruction, told board members on Monday night the state’s decision is anything but.

First, state Board of Regents members are still hoping the federal Department of Education will act on a state request to cancel the tests altogether despite the federal government’s unwillingness to do so. Second, the district — and others in its position — need guidance from the state how to handle testing for students who aren’t in school when the tests are given.

“These tests, we’ve been told, are only to be given in person; they are not to be given remotely,” Harvey said. “There’s been some talk in regards to whether you use make-up days for kids on the hybrid schedule or the seventh and eighth graders that are here every two days. We will see how that goes. We don’t have any specific answers how that’s going to work or exactly what our schedule is going to be.”

Harvey told board members families would get information from the district once its questions are answered by state officials.

The New York State United Teachers previously encouraged the state to request a federal waiver of third through eighth grade testing and high school testing requirements. Thousands of comments were submitted to the state by educators demanding a waiver of testing requirements this year.

“In a year that has been anything but standard, forcing states to administer standardized exams is just plain poor federal policy,” said Andy Pallotta, NYSUT president. “The state is making the most of a bad situation by scaling back this year’s testing requirements and limiting stress on students who already have gone through so much. Commissioner Rosa, Chancellor Young and the Board of Regents are doing what’s necessary to put students’ needs first in a frustratingly backward situation.”