Report card release delayed

School districts statewide will have to wait a while to find out how their schools fared on this year's state report cards.

Citing incorrect test score data, the state Department of Education has postponed the release of state report cards. The decision was made shortly after state education officials learned Thursday morning that a testing company had provided the state with incorrect information on end-ofcourse results.

End-of-course exams are factors in report card ratings for middle schools and high schools. A change in these ratings can also impact district report card ratings.

"We don't know the extent of the scoring errors or when the report card release will occur," state Department of Education spokesperson Jim Foster said.

The state has annually released report cards for schools and districts since 2001.

Schools receive separate ratings on report cards based on their actual test score improvements and growth in student achievement. Schools receive a grade of "Excellent," "Good," "Average," "Below Average," and "At Risk."

More than 1.6 million report cards are sent home with students each year.

Cherokee County School Superintendent Dr. Bill James said the district has postponed mailing out report cards until it receives approval from the state.

"It's very important to have accurate data," James said.