Technical Failure Disrupts New York City Specialized High School Exam

Students taking New York City’s Specialized High Schools Admissions Test on November 14 encountered technical problems that prevented some from logging in or completing the exam. Testing was stopped and students were dismissed from affected sites, including Brooklyn Tech and Stuyvesant. One account put the number affected at about 2,500.

The Department of Education said the problem involved Pearson, the test vendor, and that it was working with the company to resolve the issue. Students who could not finish are to be rescheduled. The department said families would receive more information, with one notice specifying November 20 as the date by which they would learn the new test date. Rescheduling will not affect students’ scores or admission consideration.

Students who completed and submitted the test may also request a retake if they believe the technical problems affected their performance. The exam is taken by eighth- and ninth-graders and determines placement at eight of the city’s nine selective high schools. This is the first year the city has used an adaptive version, which changes question difficulty based on a student’s answers.

Councilmember Susan Zhuang and other lawmakers called for a thorough, transparent investigation, arguing that the city remains responsible for the testing process even though Pearson administers it. Education policy fellow Danyela Egorov also called for an independent investigation. Former deputy schools chancellor Eric Nadelstern said the city should consider holding the exam earlier in future years, so any rescheduled test would not fall near the holidays.

Exam Glitch Denies Students a Fair Shot at Specialized Schools

A failure in the system used for New York City’s Specialized High Schools Admissions Test interrupted a high-stakes admissions process on November 14. Some students could not log in; others were stopped before finishing. About 2,500 students were affected, one account said, at sites that included Brooklyn Tech and Stuyvesant.

The Department of Education says the problem involved its vendor, Pearson, and that students who did not complete the exam will be rescheduled. But naming a contractor does not resolve the city’s responsibility to provide every child a fair chance. Councilmember Susan Zhuang and other lawmakers have called for a thorough, transparent investigation into how the breakdown happened and how to prevent another one.

Students who finished the exam may request a retake if they think the disruption affected their performance. The department says a new date will not change scores or admission consideration. Families are to receive further information; one notice gave November 20 as the date they would learn the rescheduled date.

The test determines entry to eight of the city’s nine selective high schools, making a dependable administration essential. This year also marks the first use of an adaptive version, which adjusts question difficulty based on answers. The city must explain how the failure affected students and ensure that rescheduling delivers an equal opportunity, rather than leaving families to bear the consequences of a system they do not control.

City Must Own the Specialized High School Exam Failure

New York City’s Department of Education cannot treat a contractor’s technical trouble as someone else’s problem. The Specialized High Schools Admissions Test stalled on November 14, with students unable to log in or finish at multiple sites. One account said about 2,500 students were affected.

The DOE said Pearson, which administers the exam, experienced technical problems and that the city was working with the vendor to resolve them. But the city selected and oversees the testing process. Councilmember Susan Zhuang and other lawmakers are right to demand a thorough, transparent investigation: families deserve an account of what went wrong and confidence that the rescheduled exam will be handled reliably.

Students who could not complete the test are to be rescheduled, and those who finished may request a retake if they believe the disruption affected their performance. The department says the new date will not affect scores or admission consideration. Families are expected to receive follow-up details, with one notice saying they would learn the rescheduled date by November 20.

The exam determines entry to eight of the city’s nine selective high schools, so a breakdown has consequences for students and families who prepared for it. The city should focus on clear communication and a dependable retest plan, not simply point to Pearson. A former deputy schools chancellor has also urged the DOE to consider scheduling the test earlier in future years to avoid holiday-season complications if disruptions require a new date.