TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - State Board of Education members have scolded a contractor for being tardy in delivering Florida's standardized test results.

The board Tuesday also rejected a staff proposal to ask the Legislature for a 1.8 percent spending increase to cover rising cost of living expenses in the state's school system during the next budget year.

Board member Akshay Desai told Douglas Kubach, a group president and CEO for testing contractor Pearson, that late results hurt the credibility of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT.

The company already has paid the state a $14.7 million penalty and Kubach said it is taking steps to get its work done on time in the future.