Education Commissioner Candace McQueen
Tennessee House Democrats on Tuesday blasted the statewide school assessment testing system known as TN Ready, saying the system has not worked correctly in the four years it has been in existence.
The House Democrats also called for the resignation of Education Commissioner Candace McQueen.
Officials said, "The on-line tests experienced connectivity problems yesterday across the state, followed by apparently different connection problems today. Education officials said on Twitter that today’s issues may have been attributable to a cyber 'attack'. Two years ago, the assessment tests had to be cancelled in some grades due to a massive platform failure. Other grades had to take paper-and-pencil tests. That caused the platform vendor to be fired and replaced with a new vendor. After a phase-in period last year, the full set of on-line tests was supposed to be administered this year, and then this occurred."
In an impromptu press conference in front of the House chamber on Tuesday afternoon, Democrats said enough is enough and called for Commissioner McQueen to step down.
Nashville Rep. John Ray Clemmons said “These tests are the cornerstone of state accountability for teachers and students. It is now time to hold Commissioner McQueen and the Tennessee Department of Education accountable for their repeated failures in administering these tests. Commissioner McQueen has had the opportunity to perform year after year, and yet again she has gotten an F on this test. “
“Every year we experience failure after failure and problem after problem,” Rep. Antonio Parkinson (Memphis) said. “We are supposed to use these tests to assess the progress our schools are making, our school districts are making, our students are making and our teachers are making. It’s time to start making assessments about the progress our Department of Education and it’s leadership is making.”
Rep. Bo Mitchell (Nashville) said, "It’s disappointing that our Tennessee Department of Education has failed our kids and teachers again. It’s time to place the Education Department on the priority department list for takeover.”