JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After months of debate about a controversial new Florida standardized test, its debut today is not going smoothly.
For the Florida Standards Assessment -- the replacement for the controversial Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test -- students in grades eight to 10 were scheduled to take a writing test online Monday, but technology problems are slowing the process.
Duval County, Clay County and St. Johns County have confirmed problems with computers "freezing up," as have several other counties in central and south Florida.
St. Johns County Superintendent of Schools Joe Joyner said students were trying to log in Monday morning, but nothing was happening, keeping many students from taking the test. He said the computer system would slow down and freeze at times.
"Eventually I was just told about 80 percent of our students were able to complete the test," Joyner said. "That's certainly better news. We're going to attempt again for a second session, so hopefully the news will be better today."
The Florida Department of Education issued a statement that they were aware of the problems.
"While many students across our state are testing successfully, we have heard from some districts that are experiencing difficulties," wrote FDOE Communications Director Meghan Collins. "This is a 90-minute test; students have a two-week window, plus a makeup window, to complete the test. Commissioner Stewart is looking into any reported issues to determine the cause and will work to immediately resolve it."
Students in the fourth through seventh grades were given pencil-and-paper writing tests Monday, and those were not affected.
Various components of the test are being conducted between now and May 8 to students from the third to 10th grades.
SAMPLE WRITING TESTS: Grades 4-5 | Grades 6-8 | Grades 9-11
READING TESTS: Grades 3-5 (answer key) | Grades 6-8 (answer key) | Grades 9-11 (answer key)
MATH TESTS: Grades 3-4 (answer key) | Grades 5-6 (answer key) | Grades 7-8 (answer key)
To put together the FSA, Florida used questions that were field-tested in Utah, but more than half of the students who took the Utah test failed and the state is now debating whether to dump its test.
Some school districts have said they're not ready to administer the tests because many are given on a computer, which poses a technical challenge. Some schools have limited numbers of computers or bad Internet connections.
"This is a problem with the exam itself. This is a problem with the lack of infrastructure. And this is a problem that is not unanticipated and its not unexpected," Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, said.
Montford has submitted legislation that allows the test to be taken but would not count the results this year.
"Only a couple of school districts that I've heard from have been able to give it," Montford said. "All the rest of them have had difficulties. And this is a good clear indication that we need to slow down."
Before the delays, thousands of parents were planning to opt their kids out of the test. More are likely to do so.
Students who fail the FSA or refuse to take it can move onto the next grade based on a portfolio of work or by passing certain other tests, but there's a chance they also may be targeted for remedial courses.
Under the old FCAT writing test, students responded to a prompt that was a few sentences long. Now, students have to read a passage sometimes multiple passages long and respond. Some teachers fear students will run out of time.
"The issue is this is the first time we've done it. We've expanded computer-based testing so much in our schools now that everything has to work right," Joyner said. "It's always a challenge the first time you administer a new test. We typically do have issues. And usually they're able to get resolved."
A lot rides on this test. Third-graders can be held back if they fail; high-school students can be denied a diploma and, since teachers' evaluations depend on test scores, they can be relieved of their jobs.
Tenth grade students are expected to take computer-based tests on Wednesday. Joyner said he hopes the system will work better for them than it did Monday.
"We view this testing as an opportunity for children to celebrate their learning," Joyner said. "Trying to take the anxiety away from it and say just celebrate your learning, and they get excited to celebrate their learning, and then they can't and that's a little frustrating but a lesson in life. I'm sure it'll get corrected and we'll get a chance to show our stuff in the writing."