x
Breaking News
More () »

Tennessee Comptroller agrees to review ACT

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally requested the review after ACT decided not to release the test results of 400 Tennessee high school students after a testing "mis-administration" at two schools.

The state Comptroller has agreed to Lt. Gov. Randy McNally's request to review the ACT company following a testing "mis-administration" at two Tennessee high schools that resulted in 400 students not receiving their exam results.

McNally sent a letter to Comptroller Justin P. Wilson last week, asking for an investigation into ACT's nonprofit status and whether ACT sells information about students taking the exam. McNally also asked Wilson to review any contracts the state has with ACT, and whether ACT is in compliance with each one.

"The organization's refusal to even entertain the release of these important college admissions scores has led me and other state officials to question the integrity of the organization. I believe further investigation of ACT to be in the interest of Tennessee students," McNally wrote in the letter.

John Dunn, a spokesperson for the Comptroller's office, told 10News on Thursday the Comptroller's office has agreed to conduct a review.

"We will report back to Lieutenant Governor McNally on anything we are able to determine," Dunn said.

Dunn said it is too early to discuss any possible outcomes of the review, which will likely take several months.

The scores in question are from 409 Bearden High School students and a number of students from Alvin C. York Institute in Jamestown who took the ACT on Oct. 17. The students were given a test booklet intended for Oct. 3, meaning they could have theoretically received test answers.

ACT has said they won't release the students' scores, and said the mistakes in how the tests were administered were on the part of the schools.

ACT published a blog post on Tuesday addressing McNally's request for the state Comptroller to investigate the company's business practices. The post, signed by Scott Montgomery, senior vice president for ACT public affairs, says the company "welcomes any discussion with our state partners about the importance of college readiness testing and the integrity of ACT and our practices."

McNally, along with other state and local officials, met with ACT representatives in Nashville last month to discuss the scores, but neither side was satisfied with the results of the meeting.

"The Lt. Governor's response was disappointing, as he asked that we disregard our rules and policies—the ones that we follow to ensure the validity of ACT scores and keep standardized testing fair for all students," Montgomery wrote.

On the question of whether ACT is selling information about students that take the test, Montgomery said it is "no secret" that the company provides students information to colleges, universities and scholarship agencies through a voluntary program. Students have to opt in to participate in the program.

He said ACT will cooperate with any inquiries, and "look forward to future discussions with the State Comptroller's Office on these issues."

Before You Leave, Check This Out