2014-2015 ISTEP Scores

School Officials Weigh in on ISTEP Tests

December 7, 2015AuthorMary Perren, WKVI 

 

The superintendents of both Pulaski County school corporations have sent a letter to community members expressing their concerns over the latest ISTEP test scores. West Central Superintendent Don Street says several factors contributed to the drop in scores indicated by the embargoed test results.

“We had a change in the standards, we had a change in the test format. It’s becoming more challenging, but we — our children, our students — just need time to adjust to what is expected of them and the type of test that they are to take.”

Street adds the test is not a true reflection on students or schools. Embargoed letter grades indicate a significant drop in  both math and English/language arts scores.

“People have passed previous ISTEP tests, schools have done very well on their letter grades, and suddenly many schools letter grades are going to be dropping dramatically, kids’ scores are going to be dropping dramatically just because of the change and the problems with the technology of the company,” Street said.

He believes a transition year or two is needed to ensure everyone understands what is expected in terms of material on the ISTEP test.

“There’s millions of dollars, millions of taxpayer dollars spent on these tests, and maybe there’s something better that money could be used for. Accountability is important, but I think it’s more important to make sure people understand what they’re going to be held accountable to,” Street said.

Despite widespread criticism of the test, state officials have not indicated whether they intend to offer amnesty to corporations.

N.J.-S.P. Awaits State-level Decisions on ISTEP Scores

November 23, 2015AuthorTyler Maffitt, WKVI 

 

The North Judson – San Pierre School Corporation says waiting on the state for direction is a lesson in frustration.

ISTEP scores have been embargoed, or unable to be shared, until December 8th for the school corporation. Any testing results shared with staff have come with a recommendation from the state that they be taken with a bit of caution.

The test students took in 2014/15 was a new standard and test. N.J.-S.P- Superintendent Lynn Johnson says that a new test is expected in 2015/16 as well.

“I think this year will probably be straightened out, I would hope. But this 2014/15, we’re kind of all in limbo so we just don’t know where we stand,” says Johnson. “By the time we get everything back and go through it, it’s going to be time for the next test. I’m not sure how useful the data will be.”

Reduced ISTEP scores in English and Mathematics across Indiana for the previous year have prompted officials with the state Department of Education and the state Board of Education to consider methods for evaluating the results.

According to the discussion during last week’s North Judson – San Pierre School Board meeting, administrators were still evaluating the results, locally.

“When we reviewed ours, we have gray bubbles above, we have gray bubbles slightly below, but right now, they’re embargoed. We can’t share those,” says Johnson.

Written portions of the ISTEP test could be rescored. Disparity in the difficulty levels between the written version of the test and the online version has also caused concerns around the state. N.J.-S.P. students experienced technical problems with the online version, putting the school corporation in a bit of an odd position.

Certain officials with the state have called for fast solutions to the problems associated with ISTEP.

Ritz Discusses ISTEP Scores with N.J.-S.P. Officials

November 9, 2015AuthorMary Perren, WKVI 

 

ISTEP scores across the state are expected to plummet due to changes in the test. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz discussed the anticipated drop with North Judson-San Pierre officials during a Friday visit to the elementary school.

She says language arts scores statewide will be down 16 percent, and math scores will be 21 percent lower than the previous year. The lower scores will reflect negatively on school rankings unless state lawmakers take action. Ritz says the federal government has already given the state permission to freeze the scores.

“We have to take advantage of that, though,” Ritz said. “en to the governor twice now, saying this is what we should be doing. We shouldn’t be impacting the economy of our local communities with a false impression of the schools.”

Ritz notes Pence has been rather vague as to what should be done about test scores. She notes any decisions will be made by the general assembly. Options approved by the U.S. Department of Education include either freezing scores or what Ritz calls a “hold harmless” approach. It would allow schools to choose between their 2013-14 or 2014-15 ISTEP scores, whichever ones are better.

Ritz says whatever the legislature decides, schools and students should not be penalized due to the transition between tests.

“When you see that kind of big drop in performance, it doesn’t mean that our schools are performing less. It simply means we gave a more rigorous assessment, and we should be giving flexibility for that.”

State officials are still awaiting the release of last year’s ISTEP scores. It’s been delayed due to problems grading the test.

ISTEP Round Two Begins Next Week

Published: April 22, 2015

By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

The second round of the ISTEP test will be administered starting next week in area schools.

Students took the first portion of the test in March of this year – which covers English, Math, and for some students: Science and Social Studies. ISTEP is used to help measure student performance in a handful of subject areas.

Knox Community School Corporation will begin round two of ISTEP testing on Monday, April 27th according to their school calendar. North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis Schools will also be starting the second round of the test on the 27th. Exactly how the tests are administered, however, is left up to the local school corporation.

Eastern Pulaski Schools in Pulaski County and Plymouth and Culver Schools in Marshall County will also give the test to students in 3rd through 8th grade beginning on April 27th.

Area Students to Take Shortened ISTEP Exam Next Week

Published: February 25, 2015

By: Anita Goodan, WKVI

This year’s shortened ISTEP exam will be taken at all of the local schools next week. The test window begins today.

Governor Mike Pence signed into law SEA 62, the bill that allows the Indiana Department of Education to shorten this year’s ISTEP test. The test would have been more than 12 hours for third grade students.

The test will begin on Monday at most schools and Tuesday at others. Students will be tested in the next two weeks. The window closes March 11.

Schools already had been preparing for a shorter ISTEP since receiving guidance from the Department of Education after state Superintendent Glenda Ritz cut out portions of the exam with the help of two consultants hired by the governor.

Department of Education Issues New ISTEP Requirements

Published: February 20, 2015
By: Tyler Maffitt, WKVI

Calls for reduced test times have prompted the Indiana Department of Education to issue guidance eliminating certain questions from the ISTEP test.

The reductions come shortly after new rules were adopted by the Indiana General Assembly. Those alterations, however, come close to the actual testing dates.

Plymouth Community Schools Superintendent Dan Tyree says if testing times can be reduced; it should’ve been done well in advance.

“I think the public should be irate that we have political volleyball being played with the ISTEP test and that’s exactly what’s happening,” says Tyree.

According to guidance released by the Department of Education, portions of the Math and Language Arts sections will be dropped. By eliminating those portions, it will save test takers about three hours and five minutes at all grade levels.

ISTEP is used to measure student progress, but is also used in teacher evaluations around the state. Multiple school corporations in the immediate area have criticized using ISTEP as an evaluation tool.

Tyree says it’s an unusual step to use one test as an evaluation.

“Their principal sees what they’re doing throughout that entire 180-day period and then you take a 7-hour period on a test and say ‘well, you didn’t do very well this year’ and so you’re going to get an F or you’re going to get a D,” says Tyree.

ISTEP tests will be administered in many area schools in March and April.

Private schools receiving choice vouchers may soon have the option to administer a test other than the ISTEP under a bill being considered in the Indiana Senate. Whether reducing ISTEP test times makes public education more competitive remains to be seen.

Tyree says he recommends residents ask how much ISTEP costs taxpayers, and ask educators if the test is effective at measuring student knowledge.

North Judson-San Pierre School Board Celebrates Improved Test Scores

Published: October 28, 2014
By: Mary Perren, WKVI

The effort teachers at North Judson-San Pierre schools have put into preparing students to take ISTEP tests is paying off. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says test scores from 2009 to 2014 reflect steady gains. Math scores have gone from 62-percent proficiency in 2009 to 81 percent in 2014 for grades 3 through 8. During that same time period English/Language Arts scores have improved from 66 to 77 percent.

Johnson also notes the growth has been sustained over a period of time. Rather that peak and dip, she says students are showing steady year-to-year gains according to the data. She and corporation testing coordinator Venita Cunningham shared that information with the school board last week.