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There was no smooth roll out of Florida’s new computer based testing this week. As Matt Galka tells us, lawmakers will have their hands full figuring out how to remedy the situation over the next two months.

More than half of Florida’s school districts reported some sort of problem with the new computer based standardized testing on Monday – prompting delays and suspensions of the assessment.  Senator Bill Montford says it was a predictable disaster.

“We knew this would happen for two years. It’s not surprising it’s disappointing,” he said.

The state’s department of education gave the all clear to resume testing Tuesday morning. There were far less problems reported on day two. Florida’s Speaker of the House said that despite technical glitches. The state would not be backing down from testing.

“I acknowledge there are legitimate concerns that have been raised about testing in this state, and we will address those concerns. But, we will not retreat from accountability,” said House Speaker Steve Crisafulli.

A variety of factors – including technical readiness and the amount of time schools devote to testing – have prompted calls for a suspension of the test. At the very least, lawmakers say this year’s exams should be a beta test and not count towards school grades.

“If you’re a student in the classroom and you saw everything going on around you and knowing that it was sort of a disaster. Putting myself in those student’s shoes, I think we have to keep that option on the table,” said House Education Committee member Clay Ingram.

House Democrats say it may end up being a good thing the testing debacle happened a day before the start of legislative session

“We’re hearing if around the state right now, school districts are up in arms, the people are up in arms, and I think that type of uproar is really important, the timing couldn’t be better,” said House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford.

Lawmakers have 59 more days to try and figure it all out. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said he had not heard any calls to suspend the test, and was still waiting to talk to the Education Commissioner about why there were so many glitches.