Pence, Ritz Will Work Together On Addressing ISTEP+ Length

Thursday, February 12, 2015 at 6:28 AM

By Mike Perleberg

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - The finger pointing between Republican Governor Mike Pence and Democrat Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz appears to have stopped, at least for now.

Pence announced Wednesday that the ISTEP+ testing time would be worked on starting Friday at a State Board of Education meeting. The governor admitted there is no legal authority for his office to modify the ISTEP+ or how it is administered to students. “Because of the cooperation we’re announcing today, I am confident that in short order, we will have substantive recommendations that will inform the State Board of Education and give the Indiana Department of Education options to significantly reduce the length of this test,” Pence said. “I believe with the cooperation that we now have in place, we can significantly shorten this test and lessen the burden it was poised to place on Hoosier kids, on families, and on our teachers.” Indiana ISTEP+ Testing Time Changes 2014 vs. 2015 Grade 2014 Online/Paper Operational Total Time 2015 Online/Paper Operational Total Time Change in Total Time from 2014 to 2015 3 5 hours, 9 minutes 12 hours, 30 minutes 7 hours, 21 minutes 4 5 hours, 9 minutes 11 hours, 55 minutes 6 hours, 46 minutes 5 5 hours, 9 minutes 11 hours, 32 minutes 6 hours, 23 minutes 6 5 hours, 9 minutes 11 hours, 40 minutes 6 hours, 31 minutes 7 5 hours, 9 minutes 11 hours, 47 minutes 6 hours, 38 minutes 8 5 hours, 9 minutes 11 hours, 15 minutes 6 hours, 6 minutes Source: Indiana Dept. of Education, Governor's Office Controversy over the ISTEP+ exams was sparked last week when educators learned the test would take double the time to complete as previously thought. With the addition of the iREAD-3 test, third graders will see more than 12 hours of testing this spring. The two sides now believe they can work out a compromise, though time is of the essence. The testing window for 450,000 students in grades 3rd through 8th opens February 25. The governor said Ritz has agreed allow the Indiana Department of Education to release all requested information to two testing consultants hired by Pence – at a cost of up to $22,000 each – to find ways to shorten the test. The consultants will work with test vendor CTB McGraw-Hill to provide preliminary recommendations by the SBOE meeting Friday. Pence said the integrity of the test and the state’s A-F school grades must be preserved. “Accountability is important to the progress that Indiana has made and will continue to make in education. Our parents deserve to know how their kids are doing in school. Our parents also deserve to learn how their schools are doing,” he said. But Pence rejected the notion that Ritz shouldn't be held accountable for her actions. The Indiana Department of Education is solely responsible for administering and shortening the ISTEP+ test. The ISTEP+ testing time debacle was cited by Republicans as a reason to vote in favor of House Bill 1609 on Monday. The bill seeks to change the state law to make the chair of the State Board of Education a position elected by the board members, instead of the state superintendent automatically chairing the board. Democrats and other opponents of the change have called HB 1609 a political move to reduce the authority of Glenda Ritz, the lone Democrat statewide office holder. RELATED STORIES: Senate Committee Passes Another Version Of Ritz/SBOE Bill Pence Executive Order To Address ISTEP+ Testing Time; House Passes McMillin’s SBOE Bill 10+ Hours Of Testing Expected For ISTEP Test Takers This Spring