Dive Brief:

• In Monroe County, TN — a high-performing district that had prepared for the new Common Core-aligned online standardized tests — emphasis was placed on maintaining morale after the tests went awry because of technical glitches.
• The snags meant that students were consequently tested with exams that the teachers hadn't been prepping them for, creating anxiety and tension in the district.
• District teachers obtain merit-based raises and bonuses based partially on student performance, and the testing glitches led to flat performance and scarce compensation. 

Dive Insight:

Other districts in Tennessee and other states where online testing glitches have occurred can take away lessons from what happened in Monroe County. Even in advantaged locales where 70% of teachers hold advanced degrees and students are high-achieving, only so much preparation can be done. And when things go wrong, it's important to have a school culture where teachers feel wholly supported by principals and district officials. 

Brian Partin, the principal of Ross N. Robinson Middle School, told Education Week that having teachers feel supported eases their fears of the unknown. Having relaxed and confident teachers leads to more relaxed and confident learners. In this case, that kind of morale-boosting may have saved the district from having to replace classroom leaders who otherwise may have quit over the glitches.

Minnesota, Nevada, and Montana are also dealing with the aftershock of new online standardized testing glitches.