The state will cancel its contract with standardized testing company Questar — a strong but not wholly unexpected response after computer glitches delayed thousands of students in taking their year-end exams this spring and left administrators questioning whether the results will even be valid enough to use.
The decision came after an hourlong deliberation by the Utah board of education in an executive session closed to the public. When the meeting re-opened just after midnight on Friday, members voted 12 to one to terminate the $44 million and 10-year deal it had with the provider.
“There are performance standards and expectations built into the contract and they weren’t met,” said board chairman Mark Huntsman.