The TNReady was supposed to be an on-line computerized test. That failed. So the test was going to be shifted to paper and pencil old school BS Test. That also failed-- Measurement, Inc. delivered incomplete tests, missing materials and just plain failed. Would there be a delay? A moratorium? A hold harmless?
All that, and a big fat firing as well.]
Word came today that the state has fired Meassurement, Inc.
“Measurement Inc.’s performance is deeply disappointing," Education Commissioner Candice McQueen said in a statement. "We will not ask districts to continue waiting on a vendor that has repeatedly failed us.”
The test is now optional. Take it, or decide that you've already wasted too much of your school year on this foolishness.
Gov Haslam tossed in a "Yeah, this sucks, but at least we still have super-awesome standards."
But at least, finally, accountability for one of the test manufacturers trying to get rich from education reform. Meanwhile, so sorry, teachers and students of Tennessee, for all the time and effort wasted this year. And good luck to Tennessee's education bosses on selling testing next year. Now let's see what the feds have to say about a state that flat-out fails to make its 95% testing quota.
cost to not test:
ReplyDelete$1.8 million already paid toward the 3 year, $300 million contract.
Canceled choir trips and read ins.
Meanwhile- my district has no text books.
Thrilled the test failed.
But what a cost to get there.
Don't forget to count all the time spent on test preparation. In my experience, most of the children don't learn much from test prep. It wastes time that could have been spent learning something new or maybe even interesting.
DeleteTime for a refund on faulty product....does that ever happen in test world?
ReplyDeleteThe state will levy a fine and the company will happily pay it as they know a million today means a billion to them tomorrow.
DeleteI'm no fan of testing, in fact, I'm quite the enemy. But fair is fair. The state told the company they had two months to change to a paper test with sufficient supplies in every school. That's a tall order for any publishing firm. Contact printers and they'll say how much is in the queue ahead unless it's a rush order that will cost beaucoup bucks, which the state didn't amend the contract to provide, did they? Yes, Measurement, Inc. failed, but Tennessee is scapegoating the same as Vammy Pammy, FL Commish, did last year. Own it, Tennessee and get rid of testing, period, and all the people in your bureaucracy that continue to advocate this educational abuse.
ReplyDeleteThe next blow up will be the data miners posing as education tools, I predict Schoology a VC enterprise that is utterly useless but is spending big including a Florida "convention." In June but hey its all good!
ReplyDelete