Technical Glitches Disrupt Exams in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
On Friday, many students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) faced another day of technical issues that interfered with their end-of-year state exams. This marks the second day in a row that the exams, administered online across the state, have been disrupted.
The district reported encountering “platform and/or server disruptions.” Despite these challenges, CMS initially described the issue as a “localized technology issue” to staff and families.
Statewide, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) confirmed that no similar disruptions occurred outside the Charlotte area. However, they are actively assisting CMS in resolving the problem.
“NCDPI knows how stressful and frustrating these interruptions are for students who came ready to test, and for the families and educators supporting them,” stated DPI spokesman Mark Dessauer. He added that both NCDPI and CMS are working over the weekend to address the situation. “Outside of several schools in CMS, North Carolina public schools experienced a normal testing day yesterday and today.”
In response to the issues, CMS advised principals to halt testing if their schools encountered problems. The affected schools are now implementing a contingency plan to reschedule the exams, which is a standard procedure across North Carolina districts when disruptions occur.
The district acknowledged the stress and frustration caused by the situation, assuring that counselors and school teams are available to support students experiencing testing anxiety. “We know how much hard work, energy, and preparation our students pour into these assessments,” CMS communicated to families. “Experiencing a technical interruption mid-test can be frustrating and stressful for them. We want to validate that feelings of disappointment or anxiety right now are normal and understood.”
CMS is committed to collaborating with DPI throughout the weekend to resolve the issue with a sense of urgency. The exact number of affected students remains unclear.
