Thirty five Austin students were among the 7,989 statewide who were mistakenly told they had failed the state Basic Standards math test when they actually passed.

Tuesday, August 01, 2000

Thirty five Austin students were among the 7,989 statewide who were mistakenly told they had failed the state Basic Standards math test when they actually passed.

None of the Austin students were seniors, so the larger tragedy of being unable to graduate was not an issue here. Statewide as many as 336 seniors may have been denied their diplomas because of the error.

In the Austin school district, 536 students were tested in February of this year. Of those tests, 236 were scored incorrectly by the private Eden-Prairie-based firm hired by the state to administer the test. For 35 of the 236, the incorrect scoring made all the difference.

Now, as of Friday’s announcement, those 35 won’t ever have to take the test again.

Austin Public Schools Superintendent James Hess called it an unfortunate and embarrassing mistake by National Computer Systems of Eden Prairie. The company, which does testing work nationwide, used a scoring key that had the wrong correct answer for six questions.

Newly hired Sue Roehrich, who is the district’s coordinator for educational services, said the district is waiting to get something in writing from the state before anyone is contacted. She added that parents can call the hotline number (1-800-657-3927) with their child’s student ID number and get the new test results if their student was one of those affected.

The tests measure skills the students should have learned by eighth grade and are designed to ensure all high school graduates have a minimum competency. Most students pass the test on their first try. Students begin taking the test in eighth grade, and they have to pass in order to graduate from high school. Those who fail must retake the test until they pass.

Other area schools were also affected. Of the 40 who took the state test in Lyle, three more passed, and in LeRoy five more of the 49 who were tested passed. At Southland six more students out of the 78 tested in February will pass.

NCS Company President David Smith said the errors appear to be the result of mistakes by two employees who did not follow quality-control procedures.

David Smith said one mistake happened when workers formatted the test on a computer and changed the order of some questions. One answer key was corrected to match but not the other. The second error happened when employees did not check the test, he said.

"We make no excuses," David Smith said. "This is completely unacceptable to our company, as it is to everyone in Minnesota."

He said the company will offer $1,000 in tuition aid to students who failed to graduate due to the errors.