State tests for elementary and intermediate-level students have been suspended for this school year, the Board of Regents chancellor, Betty Rosa, and the interim state education commissioner, Shannon Tahoe, announced on Friday.

“It is most important that during the time of closure, schools are able to continue to focus their efforts toward local school and community needs, as they have been doing, and not be concerned about state assessments,” the announcement said.

Also on Friday, the federal government announced that it will waive standardized testing mandates for schools this year:

The following New York State testing programs are suspended:

— Grades 3-8 English Language Arts Test;

— Grades 3-8 Mathematics Test;

— Grade 4 Elementary-Level Science Test;

— Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test;

— English as a Second Language Achievement Test in kindergarten through 12th grade; and

— Alternate Assessment for students with severe cognitive disabilities in grades 3-8 and high school.