More errors found in
isle school tests

The Department of Education has decided to part ways with test developer Harcourt Assessment Inc. after discovering errors on standardized tests administered in Hawaii public schools during the past several weeks.

It was the second straight year that the Hawaii State Assessment provided by Texas-based Harcourt had errors.

Department spokeswoman Sandra Goya did not have details on the latest errors and noted that there has been no indication that the errors will significantly affect any school's scores.

Goya said the department will terminate Harcourt's contract to develop and provide the HSA on Aug. 30, 2006. The contract was to expire June 30, 2007.

The HSA is given each spring to gauge the progress of students in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10. The scores determine which schools fail to meet federal benchmarks and could face sanctions.

Harcourt came under fire during last spring's testing after 45 errors were discovered on the tests. They included missing pages, mistakes in instructions and incorrect answers.

At the time, Harcourt vowed the errors would not occur again. Testing companies throughout the country have had problems keeping up with the increased testing that has come with the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

But Goya said the 2005 tests contained errors, were delivered five to 10 days late at some schools and that some materials were sent to the wrong schools.