NASHVILLE, Tenn. — After a disastrous attempt at online state education assessment testing, the Tennessee Department of Education has chosen a new company with which to partner.
Questar has been awarded a two-year contract to develop and administer Tennessee’s annual state assessment tests for the 2016-2017 school year.
“This is a moment to remember and to re-energize ourselves around what that was actually about, with a new partner that can actually help us deliver on that goal that we’ve had for the past several years,” TN Education Commissioner Candice McQueen told WREG Wednesday.
The online testing will be phased in over several years to reduce chances of a repeat of the issues from the last school year.
For the upcoming school year, testing for grades 3-8 will be done via paper and pencil.
There may be an online option for high school End of Course exams.
In April, the State of Tennessee Department of Education officially terminated its contract with Measurement Inc. and suspended grade 3-8 testing due to shipping delays for testing materials.
Questar currently offers similar services to Indiana, Missouri, Mississippi, and New York.
WREG asked both the Mississippi Department of Education and DeSoto County Schools how Questar worked for them last school year.
Mississippi offered an online test.
In May, Mississippi Superintendent of Education Carey Wright said in a statement, “To have no major disruptions as was seen in other states around the country is significant.”
DCS Accountability and Research Director Ryan Kuykendall said, “With any new state testing system, there were some initial glitches. Mississippi Department of Education helped us through the process. Questar has been open to feedback from districts. Mississippi will continue to use Questar next year.”
The company was also recently named as Tennessee’s vendor for an optional second-grade assessment to replace the previously administered optional K–2 (SAT-10) assessment.
WREG asked the state how it plans to label this test, as some could argue the TNReady title is tainted. McQueen said there was some confusion last year of the differences between TNReady and TCAP. The department will explore the issue.
Memphis Shelby County Education Association Executive Director Keith Williams told WREG many in the community do not know much about Questar. He said it is concerning that the state is, again, utilizing an out-of-state test vendor.
He is concerned that the effort is rushed.
