Chrome dropping Java support, TestNav affected

[Brian Norman]

Technology Bulletin Regarding Java

Beginning in January, Google plans to phase out support for the plugin architecture, Netscape Plugin Application Programming Interface (NPAPI), which will affect how districts run TestNav on the Chrome browser. TestNav relies on Java, and Java is a NPAPI plugin.

Google plans to gradually discontinue support for NPAPI in three phases.

• Phase 1 begins January, 2015
• Phase 2 begins April, 2015
• Phase 3 begins September, 2015

During phase 1 and phase 2, Java will need to be manually enabled on the Chrome browser in order to run TestNav. In phase 3, the plug-in will be disabled completely. Chromebooks, which run on the Chrome OS, are unaffected. 

Pearson is releasing a Technical Bulletin no later than Monday, December 22, with more information about Google's phase out plan and specific instructions on how to manually enable Java on the Chrome browser.

Pearson plans to continue to accommodate TestNav users on a range of platforms, and Pearson software engineers are evaluating possible technical solutions in preparation for phase 3.

Pearson will provide periodic updates prior to September, 2015, to allow customers time to plan for upcoming test administrations.