Alaska’s Department of Education wants the federal government to waive last year's standardized testing requirement.
Last year’s Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP) testing was plagued by a string of problems, including a severed fiber optic cable at the state’s testing service provider in Kansas, home of vendor AAI. That incident created significant technological challenges which led to the cancellation of the tests.
The federal government requires public schools to administer a summative test -- like the AMP -- that measures critical thinking and students' mastery of standards every year. Without a waiver, states that do not meet federal testing requirements can lose millions of dollars in federal funding.
The state is looking for a new assessment for the upcoming school year.