MN statewide student testing to resume Friday

Schools on Friday can restart testing on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments science exam, the Education Department said Thursday.

Officials shut down the testing Wednesday after Pearson, the state's testing contractor, reported renewed technical problems and a cyber attack on its systems. It was the second time in as many months the state had to shut down testing because of the online woes.

"This morning Pearson provided the department with an explanation for what caused the service disruptions to their system, and what additional actions they have taken to resolve the situation," Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius said in a statement.

"Pearson states they are 'confident that testing can resume properly tomorrow'" and the company will keep the department updated throughout Friday on the security of the testing operation, she added.

Cassellius said the department will hire "an independent party to analyze the disruptions and determine any possible impacts to student test scores."

She's expected to say more when she updates reporters this afternoon.

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