compiled by National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest)
The ongoing litany of computer exam administration failures reinforces the conclusion that the technologies rushed into the marketplace by political mandates and lobbying by the companies paid to implement them are not ready for prime time. It makes no sense to attach high-stakes consequences to such deeply flawed tools
updated by Bob Schaeffer, 06/18/19
- For a list of states experiencing Computer Testing Problems, Click Here. (PDF)
- For a print formated copy of this Chronology, Click Here. (PDF)
2019
UTAH – “Rather Than Risk Continued Interruptions, State Will Cancel Contract with Standardized Testing Company,” Salt Lake Tribune, June 7, 2019
UTAH – “Utah Knew the Company It Picked to Create Standardized Tests Had a History of Crashes and Cyber Attacks. It Signed a $44 Million Contract Anyway.” Salt Lake Tribune, May 26, 2019
NEW MEXICO – “Students Allegedly Hacked into School Computer System, Delayed Testing,” KRQE-TV, May 14, 2019
MISSISSIPPI – “Glitch Slowed Down Timed Tests for Students,” Clarion-Ledger, May 10, 2019
UTAH – “RISE Testing Temporarily Halted in Utah Public Schools Following Statewide “Service Interruption,” Deseret News, April 27, 2019
IDAHO – “Ransomware Takes Down Servers at Local School District,” East Idaho News, April 26, 2019
FLORIDA – “School District Cancels Final Exams Due to Computer System Failures,” St. Augustine Record, April 18, 2019
MULTIPLE STATES – “Computer-Based Testing Bugs Bite Schools Again,” Education Dive, April 5, 2019
TENNESSEE — “Tennessee Will Return to Paper-Based TNReady Tests in the 2019-2020 School Year,” Tennessean, April 4, 2019
NEW YORK – “State Cancels ELA Tests for Wednesday as Computer Testing Problems Persist,” LocalSYR.com, April 2, 2019
VIRGINIA – “Ten Virginia Beach High Schools Impacted by Apparent Software Glitch During SOL Test,” The Virginian Pilot, March 15, 2019
2018
TENNESSEE – “Scathing State Audit Finds TNReady ‘Plagued with Issues’,” NewsChannel 5 Nashville, December 19, 2018
TEXAS –“Thousands of Students Booted From STAAR Testing Server” – KPRC-TV, May 15, 2018
TENNESSEE – “Here’s a List of Everything That’s Gone Wrong with Tennessee’s 2018 Testing” – Chalkbeat, May 1, 2018
MINNESOTA – “New Issues Arise Involving Testing Company,” KAAL-TV, April 26, 2018
MULTIPLE STATES – “’Deliberate Cyberattack’ Delays Online Assessments in Five States,” EdScoop, April 19, 2018
OHIO – “Online State Testing System is Down, Some Schools Cancel Tests for Day,” Daily Daily News, April 18, 2018
MISSISSIPPI – “Technical Problems Briefly Interrupt State Test,” Bristol Herald Courier, April 17, 2018
TENNESSEE – “TNReady Testing Begins with Problems,” Memphis.com, April 14, 2018
NEW YORK –“Computer-Based Chaos: Major Problems Reported Over Computer Testing,” Daily Gazelle, April 12, 2018
TEXAS – “Several Texas School Districts Affected by STAAR Testing Glitch,” Austin American-Statesman, April 10, 2018
OHIO – “Computers Mis-Grade 5,300 State Tests After Programming Error by American Institutes for Research,” Cleveland.com, April 6, 2018
MULTIPLE STATES – “Bar Exam Software Debacle Causing Testing Delays Across the Country,” Above the Law, March 1, 2018
2017
SOUTH CAROLINA – “State ACT Scores Delayed for Many Due to Technical Issues with Online Test,” WMBF News, November 10, 2017
NATIONAL – “Digital Transition Delays NAEP Reading, Math Results Until Spring,” Education Week, October 24, 2017
TENNESSEE – “How One Student’s Answers Led a District to Identify TNReady Grading Problems,” Nashville Public Radio, October 25, 2017
TENNESSEE – “Thousands of TNReady Tests Scored Inaccurately,” Commercial Appeal, October 13, 2017
SOUTH CAROLINA – “Why Half of School Districts Are Breaking State Testing Law,” The State, July 30, 2017
SOUTH CAROLINA — “After Technical Glitch, South Carolina Students Can Take ACT or SAT Next Year,” Charleston Post and Courier, July 10, 2017
IOWA – “$14 Million Later, Iowa Schools Drop Troublesome Testing Software,” Des Moines Register, May 22, 2017
MISSOURI – “Testing Glitch Frustrates Students, Administrators,” Joplin Globe, May 20, 2017
GEOGRIA – “Statewide Internet Outage Disrupts, Delays Georgia Milestone Tests,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, April 22, 2017
KANSAS – “Renewal of State Testing Contract Tabled After Problems,” Associated Press, April 18, 2017
KANSAS – “State Testing Problems Plague Kansas Schools,” KSNT.com, April 5, 2017
FLORIDA – “Breakdowns Delay Computer Based Testing,” Tampa Bay Times, February 28, 2017
SOUTH CAROLINA – “1,300 Beaufort County Students Forced to Retake ACT Old-Fashioned Way Because of Frozen Screens,” Island Packet, March 16, 2017
2016
ALASKA – “Schools Get Testing Waiver,” Juneau Empire, November 22, 2016
IOWA – “Iowa Testing System Crashes, Sparks Audit,” Des Moines Register, September 25, 2016
MONTANA, NEVADA, and NORTH DAKOTA – “State Testing Disruptions Likely Produced Dips and Gains in Student Scores, Study Says,” Education Week, September 2, 2016
TEXAS – “STAAR Vendor Must Pay $20.7 Million After Numerous Testing Problems,” Dallas Morning News, August 23, 2016
TEXAS – “Testing Glitches Trigger Reprieve for Students Who Failed STAAR,” Austin American-Statesman, August 19, 2016
FLORIDA – “Testing Company Fined $4.8 Million for 2015 Problems in Florida,” Tampa Bay Times, August 19, 2916
NEVADA – “Company Fails to Return Individual Test Scores for 200,000 NV Students,” Las Vegas Review Journal, August 18, 2016
INDIANA – “Indiana Seeks $4 Million From Testing Company Blamed for ISTEP Screw-Up,” Chalkbeat, August 10, 2016
NEVADA – “Nevada Accepts $1.8 Million Settlement Over Student Testing Program,” Las Vegas Review Journal, July 12, 2016
INDIANA – “ISTEP Scores Again Delayed,” Journal-Gazette, July 1, 2016
TENNESSEE – “Emails Reveal Months of Missteps Leading Up to Disastrous Online Testing Debut,” Chalkbeat Tennessee, June 28, 2016
MULTIPLE STATES – “Tennessee Comptroller Lists Online Test Issues in Every State,” Tennessean, June 20, 2016
TEXAS – “Foul Ups Prompt State to Scrap School Test Scores,” Texas Tribune, June 10, 2016
WISCONSIN – “Standardized Testing Glitches Plague Wisconsin Schools,” WHBL, June 7, 2016
ARKANSAS – “Testing Technology,” KATV, May 30, 2016
GEORGIA – “Admit the Milestones Were a Disaster This Year and Start Over,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, May 28, 2016
TEXAS – “STAAR Woes Continue to Grow as More Schools Worry About Accuracy, Security of Tests,” Dallas Morning News, May 12, 2016
ALABAMA – “School Board, Parents Discuss Glitches in Standardized Tests,” AL.com, May 9, 2016
GEORGIA – “Computer Disruptions at Schools Nullify Results of State Tests,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, May 6, 2016
MISSISSIPPI – “Common Core Test Glitch Across State,” Jackson Free Press, April 28, 2016
TENNESSEE – “State Education Department Terminates Statewide Testing Contract After Snafus,” TheChatanoogan.com, April 27, 2016
INDIANA – “ISTEP Testing Not as Smooth as Hoped,” Journal & Courier Online, April 21, 2016
NEW JERSEY – “PARCC Tests Postponed Statewide Due to Computer Glitch,” NJ.com, April 20, 2016
GEORGIA – “Tough Day for GMAS Test Takers,” Savannah Morning News, April 15, 2016
CALIFORNIA – “Schools’ Internet Can’t Handle Both Testing and Classroom Work,” Davis Enterprise, April 15, 2016
MULTIPLE STATES – “Technical Glitches Plague Computer-Based Standardized Tests Nationwide,” Washington Post, April 14, 2016
ALASKA – “Alaska Cancels All K-12 Standardized Tests for the Year, Citing Technical Problems,” Washington Post, April 5, 2016
MULTIPLE STATES – “Some Standardized Testing on Hold in More Than a Dozen States,” Associated Press, April 1, 2016
KANSAS – “Tests Delayed Until Further Notice,” Wichita Eagle, April 1, 2016
TEXAS – “Computer Testing Glitch Erased Untold Number of Students Test Answers,” Houston Press, March 31, 2016
RHODE ISLAND – “Cyber Attack Postpones Testing in Warwick Schools,” WPRI, March 30,2016
MULTIPLE STATES – “Online Testing Stumbles Spark Legislation in Affected States,” Education Week, March 9, 2016
OHIO – “Online State Tests Got Worse Scores Than Paper,” Columbus Dispatch, March 8, 2016
FLORIDA – “Not All Computer Systems Handle State Testing, Florida Education Department Warns,” Tampa Bay Times, February 9, 2016
TENNESSEE – “Tennessee Ditches Online Standardized Testing After “Massive Outage” in First Hour,” Nashville Public Radio, February 8, 2016
NEBRASKA – “State Ed Officials Rethinking Contract with Testing Company,” Lincoln Journal Star, February 6, 2016
INDIANA – “ISTEP Test Run: Frozen Screens, Error Messages and More Flaws,” Indianapolis Star, January 21, 2016
2015
GEORGIA – “Georgia Investigating Computer Glitch,” Indianapolis Star, December 16, 2015
INDIANA – “Computer Glitch Could Have Misscored Thousands of ISTEP Tests, Supervisor Says,” Indianapolis Star, December 13, 2015
FLORIDA –“When Will Florida Assess Fines Against AIR Over Spring Testing?,” Tampa Bay Times, December 8, 2015
NEVADA – “State to Receive $990K Rebate From Common Core Test-Maker,” Reno Gazette-Journal November 18, 2015
ILLINOIS – “School Officials Looking Into Problem with Online Tests,” Journal-Gazette & Times-Courier, September 17, 2015
MULTIPLE STATES – “Schools to Face Incomplete Data in New School Year After Common Core Testing Problems,” Associated Press, September 5, 2015
MULTIPLE STATES – “American Institutes of Research Test Platform Smarter Balanced Review,” Education Week, August 28, 2015
NORTH DAKOTA – “North Dakota to Recover More than $316,000 for Testing Glitches,” Grand Forks Herald, August 28, 2015
MONTANA – “Montana OPI withholding $118K payment to school test company,” Missoulian, August 26, 2015
NEVADA – “$1.3 Million Settlement Reached Over Botched Student Testing Program,” Las Vegas Review Journal, August 24, 2015
INDIANA – “More Test Issues Will Lead to Delay in ISTEP+ Scores,” State Impact Indiana, August 5, 2015
MINNESOTA — “Pearson to Compensate Education Department for Testing Glitches,” Duluth News Tribune, August 3, 2015
MULTIPLE STATES USING MEASURED PROGRESS TESTS –“Common Core Test Maker Responds to Botched Exams in Three States,” Associated Press, June 19, 2015
GEORGIA – “Test Maker Will Compensate Georgia for Recent Glitches,” Atlanta Journal Constitution, June 10, 2015
MISSOURI – “Tests Results Delayed Past 10-Day Promise,” Branson Tri-Lakes News, May 29, 2015
INDIANA – “ISTEP+ Security Concerns After Cyber Attack,” Fox28.com, May 21, 2015
VIRGINIA – “Testing Interrupted Three Times Because of Issues With Pearson System,” Washington Post, May 21, 2015
NEVADA – “Testing Firm Chief Redirects Blame for Common Core Computer Exam Woes,” Las Vegas Sun, May 15, 2015
FLORIDA – “DOE Calls for Temporary Testing Halt Amid Log-in Problems,” Tampa Bay Times Gradebook, May 13, 2016
MULTIPLE STATES USING SMARTER BALANCED TESTS – “Vendors at Odds Over Nevada Testing Problems,” Education Week, May 6, 2015
CALIFORNIA – “Common Core Testing Hit With Server Delays, Glitches As First Computerized Standardized Testing GetsTested,” KCBS, May 1, 2015
GEORGIA – “Some Clarke Students Face Extra Milestone Test Days After Lockup of Online System,” Athens Banner-Herald, April 23, 2015
INDIANA – “ISTEP Testing a Mess Again This Year,” WISH-TV, April 23, 2015
MINNESOTA – “Minnesota Suspends Statewide Testing Amid Technical Woes,” Minnesota Public Radio, April 21, 2015
NEVADA – “Breach of Contract Declared After Common Core Testing Crash,” KOLO-TV, April 21, 2015
FLORIDA –“Statewide Computer Glitch Causes More School Testing Woes,” Ocala Star Banner, April 20, 2015
NEW MEXICO – “Tech Issues Disrupt PARCC Testing for Special Ed. Students,” Taos News, April 18, 2015
MONTANA — “Montana Lets Schools Cancel Smarter Balanced Testing After Technical Woes,” Education Week, April 15, 2015
NORTH DAKOTA – “More Glitches Plague Standardized Tests,” Bismarck Tribune, April 15, 2015
COLORADO – “Technical Difficulties Cause Statewide Shutdown of Standardized Testing in Colorado,” Colorado Springs Gazette, April 15, 2015
MINNESOTA – “Minnesota Student Assessments Snarled by Computer Crash,” Pioneer Press, April 15, 2015
WISCONSIN – “Latest Glitch Delays Common Core Testing in Wisconsin,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, March 26, 2015
COLORADO – “Computer Attack During Standardized Testing Delays Some Exams in Colorado Springs School District,” Colorado Springs Gazette, March 20, 2015
RHODE ISLAND – “Computer Glitch Forces Postponement of PARCC Tests in Bristol,” Providence Journal, March 17, 2015
CALIFORNA – “New State Standardized Tests Begin After Rocky Trial Run,” Los Angeles Times, March 11, 2015.
FLORIDA – “Amid Technical Problems, Miami-Dade School System Postpones New Tests,” Miami Herald, March 2, 2015
GEORGIA – “Milestones Online Student Testing System Crashes in Test Run,” Athens Banner-Herald, January 21, 2015
ILLINOIS – “After Computer Hiccup, PARCC Test Up and Running at District 308,” Chicago Tribune, March 3, 2015
INDIANA – “Trial Run of ISTEP+ Online Exam Reveals Connection Issues,” Associated Press, January 16, 2015 and “When Testing Technology Fails, Students Fear They Will Too,” State Impact Indiana, February 5, 2015
MAINE – “Commissioner: State Will Look Into Lewiston Online Testing Concerns,” Sun-Journal, February 5, 2015
NEW JERSEY – “PARCC Tests Postponed at One School After Glitch,” NJ.com, February 20, 2015 and “Possible Hacking Postpones Tests in Union Township,” NJ.com, March 3, 2015
2014
ARKANSAS – “Dardanelle Experiences Testing Problems,” Courier News, May 13, 2014
CALIFORNIA – “State’s New Computerized Exam Tryout Plagued by Glitches,” Los Angeles Times, May 11, 2014
CONNECTICUT – “Stamford’s Common Core Testing Problematic,” Stamford Advocate, July 25, 2014
FLORIDA – “Computer Problems Shut Down FCAT Testing in Pasco, Hernando and Across the State,” Tampa Bay Times, April 22, 2014
INDIANA – “New ISTEP Glitches Put Educators on Edge,” Indianapolis Star, April 24, 2014
KANSAS – “Kansas Education Officials Extend State Testing Period Amid Computer Glitches,” The Wichita Eagle, March 30, 2014, and “Kansas Won’t Release Data From Reading, Math Tests,” Associated Press, July 8, 2014
MARYLAND – “Field-Testing of Common Core Exams Gets Off to a Shaky Start at MD High School,” Education Week, April 3, 2014 and “Md. School System Raises Concerns About Readiness for PARCC Common Core Exams,” Washington Post, November 9, 2014
NEBRASKA – “Problems With State Writing Tests Prompts Education Officials to Toss Results,” (Lincoln) Journal Star, July 22, 2014
NORTH CAROLINA – “North Carolina Warns About Problems with Online CTE Tests,” (Raleigh) News & Observer, May 22, 2014
OKLAHOMA – “President of CTB/McGraw-Hill Apologizes to Oklahoma for Disrupted Testing,” Tulsa World, April 25, 2014,
SOUTH DAKOTA – “’Spinning Cursor’ Among Sioux Falls Common Core Testing Issues,” KELOland.com, May 12, 2014
WASHINGTON – “Glitches Disrupt Online State Testing for Students in Tacoma,” The News Tribune, May 1, 2014, “Digital Attacks on Kennewick School District Servers Affect Student Testing,” Tri-City Herald, May 30, 2014
2013
INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MINNESOTA, OKLAHOMA – “State’s Online Testing Problems Raise Common-Core Concerns,” Education Week, May 3, 2013
ALABAMA, OHIO – same problems with ACT testing technology as Kentucky
Previous Years
WYOMING 2010 – “Online Testing Debacle in Wyoming Provides a Warning to Other States,” Hechinger Report, June 26, 2012
OREGON 2007 – “Back to Pencil and Paper For Students.” Polk County Itemizer-Observer, March 13, 2007
updated by Bob Schaeffer, 06/18/19
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| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| ComputerizedTestingProblemsChronology.pdf | 138.67 KB |
| ComputerizedTestingProblemsStateList.pdf | 80.32 KB |