Texas students who had computer issues while taking the STAAR test this past spring will not have to retake the test, according to the Texas Education Agency.
In April, 41,702 students were testing online when connectivity slowed down, disrupting the testing for approximately 20 minutes. Some districts may have been affected for up to three hours because of login issues. In May, 29,307 students encountered a connectivity slowdown of approximately 90 minutes. Of the 278,434 tested students served in special education statewide, 4,594 were testing online during this specific disruption.
On May 23, Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced actions in direct response to the online testing issues that occurred during both the April and May administrations of the test.
He stated the test results for students affected by the disruptions will be taken into account in this year's campus and district accountability ratings. Passing requirements for students in the fifth and eighth grade who were affected by the online testing issues will be waived, and $100,000 in damages will be assessed against ETS, the company responsible for the delivery and administration of the test.
"As we continue to build upon our online platform to provide greater support to students, we cannot allow technical disruptions during testing," Morath said. "We are committed to providing a positive assessment experience for our districts and students."
Locally, Texarkana Independent School District and Liberty-Eylau ISD had students affected by the testing issue. Officials at Pleasant Grove ISD did not have numbers available at presstime.
In TISD, there were nine on the May list, with eight at Texas Middle School and one at Wake Village Elementary. They also had 35 students affected in April from Texas High School, OPTIONS Academic Alternative High School, Texas Middle School, Spring Lake Park Elementary and Waggoner Creek Elementary.
L-EISD has identified one student so far who was affected by the testing issue.
TEA has also decided to rebid the assessment services provided through both ETS and Pearson and require any new contracted companies to provide better system safeguards.
"TEA is committed to taking a more focused look at how we develop our online assessment program," Morath said. "It is important that we provide students with learning opportunities that will prepare them for the ever-growing technologies they will face in their future academic and work experiences."
To read full text of the Commissioner's letter to school districts and charters, visit the TEA website at http://tea.texas.gov/taa_letters.aspx.