14,000+ Texas students have STAAR glitch

The Texas Education Agency says 14,220 Texas students taking the STAAR test on a computer had a problem last Wednesday. Students with special needs can take the standardized test on a computer. The T.E.A. says roughly 200,000 students across Texas are eligible this school year.

In a statement to Fox 7, they add that the company issuing the test, New Jersey based E.T.S. says most of the answers have been recovered. But it could be several months before that is confirmed. E.T.S. was awarded a $280 million five-year contract to run student assessment tests in Texas. They will be fined for the problems, according to the T.E.A. They add they are working on figuring out the amount.

The T.E.A. isn't requiring students whose answers were lost to re-take the STAAR. In addition to the elementary school students testing last week, high school students were also testing as part of their graduation requirements. They may have to re-take the test. The T.E.A. says they don't have the authority to override a state law that requires High School students to pass 3 out of 5 required tests to graduate.

A list of districts affected have not been made available to Fox 7. But we have confirmed at least 9 in Central Texas had the problems. Schools in Arlington and Dallas also experienced the glitch.