Istation will continue training teachers as NC puts company's reading contract on hold

Istation, a company that was chosen for a multimillion dollar contract to test North Carolina K-3 students' reading skills, says it will continue training teachers even though the state has put its new contract on hold.

Posted 9:44 p.m. Aug 21, 2019 — Updated 9:44 p.m. Aug 21, 2019

Kelly Hinchcliffe

, WRAL education reporter

RALEIGH, N.C. — Istation, a company that was chosen for a multimillion dollar contract to test North Carolina K-3 students' reading skills, says it will continue training teachers even though the state has put its new contract on hold.

The state Department of Information Technology put the contract on hold earlier this week pending an administrative review process. Istation's competitor, Amplify, which lost out on the contract, asked DIT for the review. Amplify leaders are protesting State Superintendent Mark Johnson's decision to choose Istation over their company.

NC superintendent denies appeal of reading test company not chosen for contract

In a statement Wednesday, Istation President Ossa Fisher said she is "evaluating the implications" of DIT's decision, but added that her company has "not been asked to change course on the implementation process that is well underway in schools across the state."

"Istation will continue the work we started in North Carolina this summer training teachers and helping students develop critical grade level reading skills for a successful school year," Fisher wrote. "We are already training teachers and administrators on a daily basis and have assessed over 7,000 North Carolina students to-date and registered more than 300,000 students for Istation's programs – with more joining every day."

But Amplify CEO Larry Berger says DIT's decision "means that Istation must halt its implementation while the proceeding is pending."

Senate Democrats call for legislative review of DPI's Istation pick

WRAL News asked the state superintendent's office how DIT's decision affects schools using Istation, but his office has not yet responded. In a statement Tuesday, Johnson said he was "disappointed" in DIT's decision because it "sows unnecessary confusion for our educators just as the school year."

“Istation is the best reading diagnostic tool for teachers, students, and parents. There were problems with the procurement process, but the final decision was fair, objective, and followed all rules, policies, and laws," Johnson wrote.

Johnson's decision to choose Istation prompted some educators and Senate Democrats to call for an investigation and review of the procurement process.

88 superintendents ask NC schools' chief to delay new reading test amid controversy

DIT leaders say they hope to resolve the case soon.

"Secretary [Eric] Boyette did grant Amplify’s Motion to Stay the award to IStation during the pending administrative review process," DIT spokeswoman Nicole Meister said in a statement. "The department recognizes that it is in the best interest of all parties and NC taxpayers to resolve this matter and has made it a top priority to do so."

Suggest A Correction