Gov. Pence signs executive order to study shortening of ISTEP
02/09/2015

 

Blames state board dysfunction for lengthy test, holding schools accountable for new ISTEP scores

 

In a news conference Monday, Gov. Pence announced that he signed an Executive Order to have an outside consultant review the current version of ISTEP to determine whether the test can be shortened.

 

Pence used this news conference to place blame for the test’s length on State Board of Education dysfunction, as well as the Department of Education. The governor said he did not consult with Superintendent Ritz regarding this Executive Order, but rather worked with legislative leadership. The Department of Education spokesperson later stated that they were unaware of the governor’s intentions until minutes before the news conference.

 

Gov. Pence made it clear that a consultant and/or expert was not chosen before the news conference, nor would they elaborate on what could be done to shorten the 12-hour test. However, the governor pointed out that a reading section of ISTEP could be removed in an effort to shorten the test.

 

When asked about holding schools and educators accountable for students’ test scores (from this year’s ISTEP), Gov. Pence reiterated his commitment by stating that they should “no matter what”.

 

ISTA stated that without a baseline score on this new, hastily created ISTEP test, the state should pause accountability. Common sense and data tell us that under normal circumstances, implementing a new statewide standardized test takes some adjusting. Therefore, lower test scores are to be expected. Labeling a school A-F and evaluating teachers based on the initial year's baseline score is imbalanced.

 

With the governor calling for a revision of the ISTEP test just weeks before students are to begin, it makes no sense to evaluate teachers or label a school A-F.