Senate education chief expects delay for ISTEP replacement
The Legislature is expected to extend the life of the current test so that a new version can be written and thoroughly vetted before being administered.
Standardized test scores
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Tindley Schools network taps former principal for CEO job
Kelli Marshall will permanently replace Marcus Robinson, who resigned earlier this year after questions about the financial state of the network and his lavish spending as CEO.
Lawmaker who called for ISTEP’s death now calling to extend its life
Rep. Bob Behning, who championed the so-called “kill ISTEP” bill last spring, said the state might extend its contract with the company that made this year’s ISTEP by another one or two years.
State panel backs shorter ISTEP exams without saying how
The educator-dominated panel voted 21-2 in favor of recommendations to state legislators that include moving the testing period from its current March and April times into a single time span in May.
Indiana officials consider sparing schools from penalties
Indiana officials are considering whether schools should be spared for a second year from penalties based on poor student scores on the state's ISTEP standardized test.
IPS sees test scores drop at vast majority of schools
Scores fell across the state, but the situation was worse in IPS, where the passing rate went down by 4 percentage points to 25.3 percent in 2016.
Indiana bucks the test score trend and posts a second straight year of declines
Across the state, 51.6 percent of students in grades 3-8 passed both the math and reading test, down from 53.5 percent in 2015.
ISTEP replacement panel divided over offering specific plan
Committee chairwoman Nicole Fama, a principal in the Indianapolis Public Schools district, told members Tuesday she would work with their suggestions and draft a “very broad” proposal ahead of the final meeting Nov. 29.
Indiana panel begins forming consensus around ISTEP exam
Members of a state panel criticized by Indiana superintendents for being slow in rolling out a replacement for the ISTEP student test said they expect to forward a detailed proposal to lawmakers by the December deadline.
Indiana superintendents demand action on ISTEP replacement
Indiana superintendents are blasting a state panel for being slow in choosing a replacement for the ISTEP student test, saying more delays will put students at risk.
As deadline looms, panel struggles to line up ISTEP replacement
Some members of a key testing advisory panel admit it’s increasingly likely the state will have to keep its unpopular ISTEP a bit longer.
McCormick rejects Ritz’s favored ISTEP changes, backs SAT as high school exam
Jennifer McCormick, a school superintendent from Yorktown running for Indiana superintendent of public instruction, has revealed details of how she’d like to see Indiana’s testing system change.
State seeks $4M from testing company for ISTEP glitches, delays
The holdup in scoring the 2015 ISTEP created a number of major problems for the state and required legislative action, according to education officials.
Clock ticking for Indiana to replace ISTEP, but no plan has emerged
Starting Wednesday exactly 134 days remain until the panel charged with overhauling Indiana’s testing system must make recommendations. But after three meetings, no one can even agree on a broad vision for the test.
Committee studying how to replace ISTEP holds first meeting
The 23-member study panel, which is comprised of educators, state officials and academics, heard expert testimony during a three-hour hearing at the Statehouse.
One state tries to say bye-bye bubble sheets
A New Hampshire pilot program eschews computerized testing and multiple-choice tests for “performance tasks” spread throughout the school year that are meant to measure a deeper understanding of the subjects students are studying.
ISTEP review panel’s leader says exam is ‘just too long’
The leader of a new state panel says the committee will be doing a deep analysis to recommend a replacement for Indiana's unpopular ISTEP student exam.
BRADY: Don’t ditch rigor with new test
The 23-member panel reviewing new testing options has two potential paths. Members can focus on implementing assessments that offer teachers actionable feedback on student preparedness. Or they can focus on what’s likely to quell anti-testing fervor—whether changing the test’s format, attempting to lower its stakes, or easing its rigor.
Indiana governor signs bill eliminating unpopular ISTEP
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed the measure into law Tuesday during an assembly at Eagle Elementary School in Zionsville.
State lawmakers vote to ditch ISTEP after 2017
The bill’s final vote came only after serious concerns raised by House Democrats, who passionately asserted on the House floor that they were being left out of future discussions over the test.