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From one end of the state to the other, schools experienced trouble logging in to the first ever computer based standardized test. The troubles come as lawmakers are poised to consider reducing the amount of testing in Florida. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, today’s problems are fueling the calls for less testing.

Escambia County in the extreme western panhandle couldn’t log on to the Student Assessment test. Testing was postponed until Tuesday at the earliest. In the Tampa area, 18 middle schools couldn’t log on..and so the story went across the state. Last week Commission Pam Stewart told us. “We’re ready. The test is ready.”

But A Statement from the Department of Education now reads in part:

“This is a 90-minute test; students have a two-week window, plus a makeup window, to complete the test.” It goes on to say Stewart “is looking into any reported issues to determine the cause and will work to immediately resolve it.”

A handful of bills had already been filed before the first day testing debacle. Now lawmakers here are saying we told you so. State Senator Bill Montford is a former school superintendent. “ This is a problem with the exam itself. This is a problem with the lack of infrastructure. And this is a problem that is not unanticipated and its not unexpected.”

Montford has legislation that allows the test to be taken, but not count the results this year.

“Only a couple of school districts that I’ve heard from have been able to give it. All the rest of them have had difficulties. And this is a good clear indication that we need to slow down.”

Dwight Bullard goes further. He has a bill abolishing state standardizing testing all together. He would replace it with nationally standardized tests given once a year.

“Iowa Basic, Stanford Achievement” are examples says Bullard.

Before the delays, thousands of parents were planning to opt their kids out of the test. More are likely to do so.

Superintendents across the state have been warning of problems for the last two years. In 2012, when the state upgraded the FCAT, emergency action to lower the grading scale was taken to keep hundreds of schools from failing.