Student-testing firm defends itself after computer glitches

(AP) — A student-testing company's president defended his firm Tuesday after Tennessee's education commissioner said she no longer had confidence in its ability to administer a new academic assessment test online.

On Monday, state Education Commissioner Candice McQueen ordered that students take the test, known as TNReady, using pencil and paper instead of online.

State law says school districts can evaluate teachers based on 10 percent of the TNReady scores and the weight of the test will gradually increase each year in decisions about teacher pay, firing and placement.

"Any time there's a glitch in test administration — because there's such high stakes — that's worrisome," said Wayne Miller, executive director of the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents.