MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The state of Tennessee has hired a new vendor to score this year’s TNReady tests.
This comes after the Tennessee Department of Education fired its TNReady test vendor, Measurement Inc. last month, due to ongoing shipping delays.
At that time, the state suspended testing for grades 3-8, saying districts that had the materials had the option to test.
It said high schools were to test as planned.
TNReady is the state’s new test that was meant to better analyze student understanding.
The state aimed to administer the test online, but it flopped.
The paper tests experienced several delays.
According to a letter from the state, Pearson will score 1.8 million tests, including Part I for 3-8th grades and both Part I and II for high school students, as part of its contract.
That contract is scheduled to end December 15, 2016.
Pearson currently develops, administers and scores the SAT-10 tests, and has scored the TCAP for grades 3-8.
In addition, it works with 25 other states across the nation, and even scores the SAT and the PSAT.
As to whether or not Pearson will become the official vendor moving forward is still undecided.
“The procurement process for the 2016-17 assessment is being conducted separately,” the state said in an FAQ. “This process is currently ongoing.”
Here are other questions the state covered:
How will you select the vendor the 2016-17 assessments?
• We are collaborating with CPO to secure a new testing contract, and we are working to do this quickly.
• The department is considering a number of factors in the selection of the vendor for next year’s assessment, including their ability to develop quality content aligned to the state’s academic standards, their track record of administering large-scale assessment via paper and an online platform, as well as their ability to score and deliver results on a specific timeline.
How will the department strengthen their vendor selection process in the future?
• The department will work closely with CPO to strengthen the criteria. This will include but is not limited to providing specific technical requirements for the administration of both online and paper tests and examining successful experiences
in other states.
Read: Emergency Procurement Process to Select Scoring Vendor