Williamson Students Won't Take Hit From Botched TNReady Tests

FRANKLIN, TN -- After a problem-riddled roll-out, TNReady tests will only be included in Williamson County high school students' final grades if the score would help.

The Williamson County Board of Education voted that the standardized test scores can make up 15 percent of the final grade for high school students, but only if its addition would raise the grade. Students in third through eighth grade will not have the scores included in their final grade.

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The embattled testing process ran into numerous roadblocks this year, including an apparent hacking attempt and a cable cut that short-circuited online portions of the test, leading the state legislature to pass an eleventh-hour law holding educators and students harmless from any adverse effects from this year's testing cycle. Monday, the Williamson County school board took advantage of that law, which gave district's the ability to set for themselves how much of the final marks this year's test would be worth.

Director of Schools Mike Looney called it "the worst state testing process I have ever seen" with problems that were "beyond ridiculous."

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