Studer Community Institute

Computer glitch delays state tests ... again

April 20, 2015
/ Reggie Dogan
/ early-learning

Oops! …They did it again. Students had trouble statewide logging into the Florida Standards assessment, and once again the problems are related to the testing company’s technology. While the problems affected every school in the state taking the standardized tests, schools in Northwest Florida were the least affected because they are in the central time zone, Malcolm Thomas, Escambia County schools superintendent pointed out. When reports of problems went out early in South Florida, students in Escambia County hadn’t started school. “We missed the first test in elementary schools, but missed nothing at middle and high school levels (because they start later),” Thomas said. “We put a pause on testing until the server came back up about 9:30 or 9:45.” State Education Commissioner Pam Stewart released a statement about 11 a.m., placing the malfunction squarely on the vendor’s shoulders: “This morning, AIR’s President of Assessment notified me of a technical change that was made to the Florida Standards Assessment testing system over the weekend that was not approved by the Department. This change was unnecessary to the administration of the Florida Standards Assessment and resulted in a disruption that hindered students from being able to log in to the system and take their test today. “We have confirmed that the login issue has been resolved and students are currently testing; we will continue monitoring the disruption they have caused to our state’s students, teachers and school staff.” This latest glitch was the second time that students statewide faced problems taking the computer-based, high stakes test. In March, several schools across the state encountered FSA server test administration errors, causing students to lose essays and delays on student logins and a high number of login attempt errors. The problems forced school districts from south Florida to Northwest Florida to suspend testing after the online portal problems. When the students rebooted and returned to their prompts, they either found their incomplete written essays erased or they received messages that their tests had been completed even though they had not been finished. Only the writing part of the English Language Arts test was given in March. Testing in math and English Language Arts for grades fifth through 11 istarted on April 13. The FSA testing continues through May 8.

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Computer glitch delays state tests ... again

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