Online malfunction stops TNReady testing across state

JACKSON, Tenn. — After months of preparing to take the TNReady test online, Tennessee Department of Education Chief Information Officer Cliff Lloyd said Monday the server for the test shut down.

“The network that connects all the local servers together became saturated because of processes that were kicked off the vendor at an inappropriate time,” Lloyd said.

The Tennessee Education Association said in a statement: “It is unacceptable to have this kind of statewide failure when the state has tied so many high-stakes decisions to the results of this assessment. Our students and teachers have enough stress and anxiety around these assessments without adding additional worries about technical issues.”

Changing to pen and paper test after preparing to take the test online has some parents and school districts wondering how their students will be affected.

“I feel like it may have been disappointing being that they knew this is what they prepared for,” said parent Mareta Nichols. “Now they have to wait.”

“It does bring some disappointment that we are changing the platform because this does affect the way that they are going to take that test, because they may be looking for some features that they will not get in a paper-pencil test,” said Jackson-Madison County School Superintendent Verna Ruffin.

Measurement Incorporated is working to print and ship the paper tests across the state at no additional cost. Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner Candice McQueen says the school districts were not at fault.

“We have not blamed districts nor would we,” McQueen said. “Our districts have worked tirelessly with us to get ready for this moment. This is not the faults of the districts.”

The Tennessee Department of Education expects to have a revised testing window by Thursday. The commissioner said they are still committed to moving to online testing in the future. The state’s contract with Measurement Incorporated is under review.