TNReady online testing attacked this morning

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) – Tennessee Department of Education officials said the company that runs the TNReady online tests was the victim of what may have been a “deliberate” cyber attack Tuesday morning.

Commissioner Candice McQueen briefed school directors Tuesday morning.

The testing resumed Tuesday morning, but Hamilton County stopped their tests around 11 a.m.

High school students in Hamilton County started having issues with the TNready exams on Monday.

“About 9:30 to 10:00, students started experience difficulties logging in and getting into the system to take their test,” Hamilton County Schools Spokesperson Tim Hensley says.

On Tuesday, they started to experience much of the same, and decided to stop any new testing.

“Yesterday, we were able to complete about 1600 tests, today about just under 1300 were completed,” Hensley says.

The Commissioner said that the company operating them, Questar, is taking steps to block any more outside interference.

“To reiterate what we have shared earlier, there is absolutely no evidence that student data or information has been compromised. We believe the testing program performed as designed to mask and protect student information. Again, the software is designed to save students’ work, so if their testing session was disrupted, they can resume and submit their answers.”

McQueen tweeted that they have 22,000 students logged back on taking the tests today.

All Tennessee schools will take the tests during a three week period, but each system sets their own schedule.

Meanwhile, Commissioner McQueen said they will continue to monitor the testing for more attacks.

“We want to continue to persevere with online testing, but we understand that this has presented challenges to scheduling and morale.”

The TNReady online tests have become a political issue.

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Diane Black on Tuesday attacked the testing.

“This week’s delays are not the fault of the educator or the students, but they are the ones who suffer from the missed class time as they sit and wait for the state to get its act together.”

The Tennessee Education Association expressed its disappointment with the exam systems failures.

“Students and teachers across the state are told these are high-stakes tests. Teachers’ jobs are on the line, students’ futures are on the line,” T.E.A. President Barbara Gray said in a press release.