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Bill will have students taking standardized test in second grade
01/15/2015

 

Scantron_Sheet_H.jpgSB 169, authored by Senator Erin Houchin, R-Salem was heard in the Senate Education and Career Development Committee on Wednesday. SB 169 would move the IREAD test from third grade to second grade. It was amended in committee so that students who do not pass the IREAD in second grade would not be retained, but would be remediated and then retested in third grade before they would be eligible for retention.

 

ISTA thanks Sen. Houchin for meeting with us prior to the bill being heard and recognizes that she offered amendments in committee to clarify her intent in giving students somewhat of a “practice” test in grade 2.

 

However, ISTA opposes SB 169 for a variety of reasons and will try to move the discussion within the General Assembly to alternatives that are more likely to help students learn to read.

 

  1. IREAD is not a diagnostic test. It is a pass/fail test that does not generate data that educators can use to improve students’ skills and comprehension strategies. Also it does not help educators better communicate with parents or students on the student’s strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Too much instructional time is lost to standardized testing already. ISTA supports providing diagnostic tools that help educators obtain accurate information to direct developmentally appropriate instructional strategies.
  3. The cost of this bill is estimated at $1.2 million because it would be given to both second and third grade students during the transitional year. 
  4. The DOE and State Board of Education are developing new tests aligned with the College and Career Ready Standards that will provide diagnostic information. IREAD may or may not be used once these tests are developed.

The Senate Education and Career Development Committee will vote on SB 169 on Wednesday, January 21.

 

ACTION:  Particularly to our members who serve our youngest Hoosier students, please contact the members of the Senate Education and Career Development Committee to share your experiences with IREAD. Don’t hesitate to offer better alternatives based upon your expertise.