Most states that have adopted the common standards anticipate significant challenges in shifting to a computer-based assessment system designed for those standards, a new study concludes.
A survey released last week by the Center on Education Policy is based on responses from 35 states. It shows that 20 states anticipate a “major challenge” rounding up enough computers so all students can take the new tests, which are expected to be fully operational in 2014-15. Another four states said they expected getting enough computers to be a “minor challenge,” and nine others said they didn’t anticipate a problem, or that it was too soon to tell.
States also cited adequate Internet access and bandwidth as a potential problem, as well as having access to expertise to help with technological problems as the tests are being given.
The two consortia of states working on tests for the common standards are jointly designing a “technology needs-assessment tool” that will help states and districts gauge their readiness for the common assessments.
