Online MCA Tests Plagued by Glitches, Delays

This year's round of annual testing has been thrown into turmoil by technical snafus.

Local schools in Burnsville, Shakopee and other districts around the state report persistent problems with online math and readings exams, which make up the bulk of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs). The MCAs are the benchmark tests by which children, teachers, schools and districts are judged for annual yearly progress, a key component of the educational reforms instituted by No Child Left Behind. 

During a conference call with district officials from around the state, the Minnesota Department of Education deferred to the American Institutes for Research, the vendor selected to provide the online assessments. In turn, AIR attributed the technical difficulties to a server malfunction.

Officials at the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District say that students in grades three through eight have been repeatedly kicked out of the math portion of the exam, which is administered online. Once logged in again, the test questions have been slow to load, typically taking three or four minutes for each to appear. BES schools still take the reading exams on paper, but district officials said reverting to a paper format for math was not feasible.

As of Friday, fewer glitches were reported, but about half of the students had not been able to complete the test. On Monday, the problem seemed to have been resolved, said Delonna Darsow, director of assessment at BES.

The Shakopee Public Schools encountered similar problems last week, though most seemed to be in hand by Monday. 

"There are pockets of concern. Two classrooms at the elementary level had to restart today," said Jayne Gibson, who serves as both the director of teaching and learning and assessment coordinator for the district. "Not all of the bugs have been worked out, but it does seem to be better."

This time around, Shakopee is more reliant on computerized testing than in years past. The district opted to do MCA reading exams online for the 2012-2013 school year, in addition to math and science. 

The online format offers some distinct benefits, Gibson said. Online tests promised to be more efficient and flexible. The district could schedule the testing sessions in rounds, rather than having all kids test at the same time, on the same day. Once the assessments were complete, the results would be available to the district much more quickly. 

Last week's digital disorder revealed a significant downside, however.

"It's not costing the district money, but we have lost instructional minutes," Gibson said. "And it has been difficult for the kids. They know this is an important test and when this happens it takes an emotional toll."

Districts have until May 10 to finish the MCAs.

"Those computer labs are booked solid. Anytime we have an interruption the clog gets a little deeper and thicker," Gibson said. "It's going to be a real challenge to finish it all within that window."

For now, the MDE is sticking to the deadline, though there has been some talk of an extension.