Perryton ISD: Students retested after UIL spelling list mix-up, performed strongly on retake

A board member at a Perryton ISD meeting reported that third- and fourth-grade students were given a UIL spelling test that the students identified as containing words they had not studied, then were brought back about four hours later to retake the test and performed strongly.

"Those were not our words," the board member said, recounting students' reaction to the initial test. After about four hours of waiting, "they went back in and took another spelling test, and they were exhausted," the speaker said, adding that the students "did so good" on the retest and crediting families and the coach for preparation.

The speaker said the episode showed "how hard they've worked at home and how hard their coach worked" and characterized the students' recognition of the mismatch between the word list they studied and the test as evidence of strong preparation. The board member described the students as "dedicated" and encouraged by seeing them persevere.

The district did not provide additional procedural details in the meeting transcript about the source of the discrepancy, any investigation results or whether the incident will lead to changes in test administration. The account in the meeting is based on the board member's report; no subsequent staff statement or formal finding was included in the recorded discussion.

Next steps noted in the meeting: none recorded. The board member closed the item by thanking staff and asking for questions.