For the second day in a row, end-of-year state exams in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools hit a digital wall on Friday, as fresh technical problems again forced some students out of their online tests. Principals were told to stop testing wherever issues popped up, with those students set to be rescheduled. District officials have not yet said how many test-takers were affected.
Local outages forced schools to slam the brakes on testing
CMS told staff and families it is dealing with “platform and/or server disruptions” and described the situation as a “localized technology issue” that started Thursday and reappeared on Friday. The glitches showed up as frozen screens and students being kicked out of the testing platform, which forced administrators to pause sessions and secure test materials. Schools will share updated test schedules with impacted students and families, according to The Charlotte Observer.
NCDPI calls it a local problem, steps in to help CMS troubleshoot
In a statement to WFAE, NCDPI spokesman Mark Dessauer said, “NCDPI knows how stressful and frustrating these interruptions are for students who came ready to test,” and added that the department is supporting CMS as officials work to fix the problem over the weekend. NCDPI also confirmed that there were no reported disruptions outside the Charlotte area.
Teachers say repeated glitches wrecked students’ focus
Classroom teachers reported students being logged out over and over and staring at frozen screens in the middle of long exams. “Imagine being a child trying to concentrate on a long, difficult test while the broken technology is constantly disrupting their thinking,” English teacher Justin Parmenter told The Charlotte Observer. Educators said the interruptions piled on extra stress and revived concerns about the district’s reliance on online testing platforms.
How the district is trying to steady the ship
CMS instructed principals to suspend testing at any school that ran into problems and said affected schools are using a standard contingency plan to reschedule exams. The district told families that counselors and school teams will be available to support students dealing with testing anxiety. Officials said they are working “with the highest sense of urgency” alongside state partners to restore normal testing operations, according to WFAE.
When testing happens and where to find updates
The CMS testing calendar shows end-of-year exams running from May 28 through June 10. Families are urged to keep an eye on school messages for rescheduling details and any needed accommodations. Testing resources and tips are posted on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools website, which remains the main hub for local testing guidance.
District and state officials say they will share more information as it becomes available and are urging families to contact their schools with questions about new test dates or support for anxious students.
