Texas students must retake SATS after tests fly off UPS truck

Rumors had been circulating through El Paso High School for days: Students had seen test papers strewn across busy Mesa Street on Oct. 28, and the pencilfilled Scantron bubbles were a dead giveaway — these were SAT tests, just like the ones 315 students had taken at the school the day before.

Students were called to a meeting last week and told the tests they had taken would not be scored because they had flown off a UPS truck that was transporting them. Instead of using their results to finalize their college applications, the students would have to take the test again.

UPS is still conducting an investigation, but was quick to own up to its error, issuing apologies to the school and to students.“the driver’s actions in this case are not representative of UPS protocols and methods, and we have addressed this with him,” UPS said in a statement. Pablo Villa, director of Community Engagement at the El Paso Independent School District, said it was not clear how the tests ended up scattered on the street.

Ezra Ponzio, a senior, said that when students first heard the rumors, they all hoped it wasn’t their tests on the road. According to the El Paso ISD, all but 55 of the 315 tests were recovered. Ponzio said even though most tests were found, they were still considered compromised, so everyone would have to take the test again.

El Paso ISD said in a statement the school was working with the College Board, which administers the tests, so students could retest as soon as possible. The ISD also offered waivers to affected students to take the ACT on Dec. 10 free of charge.