Dive Brief:
- Florida delayed its annual standardized testing after computer glitches Monday made it impossible for several districts to log into the exams.
- The Florida Commissioner of Education lashed out at the American Institutes for Research, the testing contractor, for making a technical change that wasn't given the OK by the state.
- Florida isn't alone, as system crashes with Measured Progress have resulted in Nevada showing leniency to districts and allowing them to use paper-based tests instead.
Dive Insight:
Montana has also had issues with Measured Progress exams, last week announcing that it would offer exam waivers to districts, though the Billings and Great Falls districts say they'll continue along with testing as expected. In the Montana case, Measured Progress says its platform couldn't support the high volume of test takers despite capacity increases.
Ultimately, these testing glitches and the dependence on tech run counter to the ultimate uncertainty they impose. If tests are as important as some policymakers say, then it doesn't exactly make sense to offer them via computers until all of the infrastructure issues can be worked out. The consequences of tests in many states are too big (students being held back, educators getting fired, schools closing) for such an up-in-the-air, stressful experience.
