Minnesota Suspends Online Proficiency Testing For Students

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Department of Education is temporarily suspending online proficiency testing for students until technical problems are resolved.

Over the past week there have been three days during which students have had problems logging into the testing system.

Minnesota has a $38 million, three-year contract with Pearson to administer proficiency testing in math, science and reading. Students in third-grade to high school take the tests annually.

The testing window has been open since March 9, with nearly 400,000 tests completed. As the number of students testing neared its peak Tuesday, Pearson has identified some technical problems and is working to resolve them.

Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius says testing won't resume until the problems are resolved.

A state law passed in 2013 requires nearly all proficiency testing to be done online.

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