Senators reject making Superintendent Ritz co-chair of ISTEP panel
02/22/2016

 

Senators rejected an amendment to HB 1395 that would have made the Superintendent of Public Instruction a co-chair of a soon-to-be created panel studying ISTEP.

 

We recently alerted members that, among other things, HB 1395 would create a new panel tasked with evaluating and replacing ISTEP.

With the amendment unsuccessful, the panel would be chaired by a hand-picked appointee of Gov. Pence. The panel chair isn’t even required to have a background in public education. 

 

We maintain that no ISTEP panel has legitimacy in the eyes of educators and parents without the State Superintendent of Public Instruction appointed at least as co-chair. The fact that Superintendent Ritz has been excluded is another example of the legislative and gubernatorial power-grabs she has faced since her election. 

 

HB 1395 is eligible for a final vote as early as Tuesday.