For parents of PS 9 students, on Manhattan's Upper West Side, who took the gifted and talented tests this year, the wait for results has been particularly tough, because their children didn't receive test results -- and the actual tests aren't in the possession of the Department of Education.Now, according to DOE spokesman Andy Jacob, the mystery is unraveling: it seems that a mislabeled box, which held about 60 tests, was shipped to the company that's contracted to score the tests in San Antonio, Texas. The box arrived, according to package-tracking records, but as "the test company didn't realize that it contained materials that needed to be scored, ... it was placed in storage" along with extra test materials and other non-scorables.

The search is now on at the test company, Pearson, to locate the mismarked box and score the tests pronto. Once they find the box, "they will be able to score the tests immediately," said Jacob, who added, "we will hopefully be able to get results to families within a matter of days." It's impossible, of course, to say precisely how many days might elapse until the missing box is found, tests are scored, and results are known.

The DOE will likely relax the admissions timeline for affected families. Jacob said, "any of these students who qualify for gifted programs will not be at a disadvantage in the application process. We will make sure that their families have enough time to explore their options and complete their application."

Let's hope Pearson finds the box, and quickly, too. Updates to follow; stay tuned.

Update: It's not good news: Pearson found the box in San Antonio. The tests aren't there, and no one knows where they are. DOE plans to retest the children whose tests have gone missing; we'll have details in the morning.