EDITORIAL: Fool me twice …

Can the state pick computer service contractors, or what?

Still neck-deep in its multimillion-dollar Obamcare debacle, caused when Xerox badly whiffed in trying to build and operate Nevada’s health insurance exchange, the state now has a Common Core testing boondoggle on its hands.

Last week, New Hampshire-based Measured Progress halted Smarter Balanced Assessments testing in Nevada, Montana and North Dakota because the company’s servers could not handle the number of students taking the computerized exams. Nevada Superintendent Dale Erquiaga used appropriately strong language to blast Measured Progress and demand that the company be held accountable, but there’s no getting around the state’s share of blame in again picking a company that wasn’t up for the job it was hired to do.

This testing is supposed to measure student progress in the third through eighth grades and show whether Nevada’s underachieving schools are making strides or treading water. What else might Measured Progress screw up?

Common Core opponents warned that online testing would bring all kinds of costs and challenges. Their warnings have been validated.

That’s more than enough embarrassment for Gov. Brian Sandoval and Nevada’s education leaders. Imagine if this had happened a week sooner. Legislation to abolish the state’s Common Core standards might still be alive. As it is, pressure is growing for school districts to opt out of the new standards, which have also changed high school exit testing.

If the state has learned anything from the ongoing Xerox disaster, it won’t accept excuses and it won’t give second chances. If Measured Progress employees don’t have their problems fixed this week, fire them — and get every dime of Nevada’s money back.