![Montana’s School Participation Declines](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2015/06/534575997.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Montana’s School Participation Declines
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana's top education official says the state will continue doing business with a testing company despite technical flaws this year that likely dropped Montana below a required participation rate.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau announced on Thursday that the state has calculated that about 82 percent of Montana's public-school students took the assessments provided electronically by Measured Progress.
It's the first time Montana has failed to reach the 95 percent participation rate required under the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act.
Juneau made the tests voluntary about two weeks into testing after widespread technical glitches made the exams nearly impossible at some schools. She says Measured Progress did its best to address the issues.
The U.S. Department of Education will conduct a final assessment of state participation rates in the coming months.
More From Newstalk KGVO 1290 AM & 98.3 FM
![Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Pulls Back State’s ESSA Plan For Revision](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2017/03/Elsie-Arntzen_1135144_ver1.0_640_360.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Sends Letter To New U.S. Secretary of Education](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2016/11/Elsie-Arntzen-KECI.png?w=980&q=75)
![Montana Election Night – State Headlines](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2016/11/Steve-Bullock-Fire-KLYQ1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Father And Daughter Killed In I-90 Rollover – State Headlines](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2016/09/FATAL-CRASH-NBC-MONTANA.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Wildfire Roars To 2,000 Acres In 12 Hours Near Hamilton – State Headlines](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2016/07/Sherry-Myers-Sawtooth-Fire-jpg_833083_ver1.0_640_360.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Superintendent Denise Juneau Responds to Attorney General Tim Fox and Title IX Federal Lawsuit](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2015/08/school1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Emily’s List Touts Denise Juneau – Slams Ryan Zinke as ‘Anti-Woman’ – Zinke Responds](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2016/05/Denis-Juneau-2016.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Over 10,000 Montana Public High School Juniors Will Take Free ACT Test On Tuesday](http://townsquare.media/site/119/files/2016/04/School-beacon-signs-pic.jpg?w=980&q=75)