HELENA — Montana’s top education official says the state is unlikely to reach the required participation rate in student achievement tests this year.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau said Tuesday she expects between 82 percent and 92 percent of schools to participate this year, falling short of a federal requirement of 95 percent.
Deputy Superintendent Dennis Parman said it would be the first time Montana has not reached the goal since the No Child Left Behind Act initiated it in 2001.
Juneau made the testing optional for schools on April 15 after software glitches delayed some students from taking the first standardized tests under the Common Core standards that Montana and about 40 other states have adopted.
Juneau said she expects other states also will fall short given widespread technical problems in administering the computer-based testing.