FSA testing suspended in Lee, Collier Counties after state computer issue

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida school districts are suspending testing amid a new round of problems with the state’s online tests.

Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart blamed the problems on the outside company the state hired to put together the state’s new standardized test.

Stewart said during a Monday conference call with school superintendents that the company made unapproved changes to the testing system over the weekend. She called the actions by American Institutes for Research “unacceptable.”

This is yet another major disruption that has occurred with the new test. The initial rollout back in March was marred by technical glitches and reports of an alleged cyberattack. The test, called the Florida Standards Assessment, is based primarily on Common Core standards.

Stewart contended that problems have been fixed and that districts can resume testing, but it doesn’t appear Lee or Collier Counties will do that today.

Both school districts tell WINK News they have suspended testing for today after the statewide computer issue. They say students were not able to log on to the computer system.

In Collier County, 10th grade, 7th grade and 5th grade students were supposed to test in math and english language arts. District officials say high school students were first to try and log on and when they couldn’t, district leaders contacted the state.

District spokesperson Greg Turchetta says, “It’s very frustrating. We can adjust, we can switch the schedule around but to have our students who already know this test means so much to their grade, come in, be prepared today and not be able to test and to sit there and wait, and then get ramped up again tomorrow, I mean we want to be able to give them the test the state requires and do it in excellence.”