Despite objections by education reform groups, bill holding schools harmless passes committee
01/06/2016

 

A bill to hold schools harmless for a predicted drop in ISTEP scores has passed an initial legislative hurdle. Under SB 200,(R – Auburn) the high-stakes A-F accountability grades for schools and school districts would not drop lower than their previous letter grade for this school year, despite 2015 ISTEP test results. This afternoon the bill passed the Senate Education Committee with a vote of 10-1.

 

The bill now goes to the full Senate for a vote.

 

Two education reform groups were the only witnesses to testify against the bill in the face of a broad coalition supporting it.

 

Stand for Children and the Institute for Quality Education both testified that SB 200 goes against the state’s prior commitment to school accountability. They disagreed with policymakers on both sides of the political aisle who now recognize that Indiana is in an academic and testing transition period as a result of the spring 2015 ISTEP scores.

 

ISTA has advocated for a pause in accountability for over a year and a half, and supported SB 200 in committee.