Schools must still give standardized tests this year, Biden administration says
The decision means that schools will have to find ways to safely administer tests to tens of millions of students, many of whom are still learning remotely.
Standardized test scores
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College Board scrapping SAT’s optional essay, subject tests
The College Board announced Tuesday it will discontinue those assessments. Citing the coronavirus crisis, officials said the pandemic has “accelerated a process already underway at the College Board to simplify our work and reduce demands on students.”
Indiana releases A-F grades for schools, districts in quiet rollout
Without an exemption approved last month, most schools would have received a D or an F. That would have affected teacher’s evaluations, and therefore pay, and put many schools on the path to state intervention.
Indiana lawmakers back dropping tests in teacher evaluations
Indiana legislators have voted to end the mandatory use of student standardized test results in teacher evaluations, dropping a requirement long opposed by teachers.
Indiana House backs no test scores in teacher evaluations
Teachers have long objected to the requirement, and bill sponsor Republican Rep. Tony Cook of Cicero said removing it acknowledges the trouble with measuring teacher effectiveness based on a single student exam.
Indiana University could make SAT, ACT tests optional
The university’s Board of Trustees recently approved the policy change, which will allow each of its nine campuses to opt out of requiring prospective students to submit test scores.
U.S. students’ performance lags on Nation’s Report Card
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said the overall national results demonstrated a “student achievement crisis” that can’t be fixed by pouring more money into the traditional public school system.
Fewer than half of Indiana students meet new state exam standards
Nearly two-thirds of all Indiana students in grades 3-8 did not pass the new state standardized test, called ILEARN, according to results released Wednesday. The latest test scores represent a 13 percentage point drop in the passage rate since last year.
Low test scores, shrinking enrollment cost Indianapolis school its charter
The Indianapolis Academy of Excellence has endured a tumultuous year, including the loss of its curriculum provider in June and the exodus of about 20 students this month.
Study of IPS shows new innovation schools might be bright spot
In the first major look at the results for innovation schools in IPS—a new kind of district-charter partnership—there are some positive signs but still some unanswered questions.
Indiana ISTEP scores remain flat overall, but gaps grow for minority groups
Only half of the state’s elementary and middle school students passed both English and math exams in 2018, but the results released Wednesday were worse for students of color.
Number of students affected by ISTEP problem up to nearly 28,000
More high school students were affected by grading problems involving this year’s ISTEP test than previously estimated, the Indiana Department of Education said Monday.
Indiana plans to seek damages over standardized test issues
Results for the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus were supposed to be publicly released Wednesday, but vendor Pearson notified the department last week about two scoring issues.
Grading problems delay release of 2018 ISTEP results
It is unclear when test results will be released. Results had been expected to be made public next week.
Indiana panel recommends changes to graduation requirements
An Indiana panel working to create new graduation guidelines for the state's high schools has recommended getting rid of the graduation qualifying exam requirement.
Losing bidder says conflict should disqualify vendor picked for ILEARN
Indiana was set to move ahead with a new company to create a test to replace ISTEP, but a rejected competitor threw a wrench into the process.
UPDATE: Vendor wins $43M contract for Indiana’s ISTEP replacement
State officials have approved a three-year contract with the Washington, D.C.-based American Institutes for Research, picking it over four other bidders.
ISTEP scores hold steady for third straight year
Indiana appears to have reached a new normal when it comes to ISTEP scores: For the third straight year, about half of the students taking the exam passed it.
Federal audit: Indiana student data systems lacked ‘adequate oversight’
State education officials say no sensitive data was improperly accessed and that steps are being taken to tighten security.
Indiana looking for testing company to create ISTEP’s replacement
The state announced last week that it will begin accepting proposals through Aug. 24 for the new “ILEARN” testing system as well as the state’s third-grade reading exam, IREAD.