Administrators, teachers, parents and students did their part in preparing for the spring ISTEP+ test, but the release of test results could be delayed for a month and not released until October. Parents and students could likely not have access to their individual scores until mid-December.
This is the fourth time that Indiana has been hit hard with the administration of the state exam that is overseen by CTB/McGraw Hill. Although Indiana will switch to another provider in the future, Pearson, the four-year, $95 million contract with CTB/McGraw Hill means they still have control of the scores for the 2014-0215 test scores.
CTB/McGraw Hill President, Ellen Haley, informed the Indiana State Board of Education yet again of delays, but blamed the delays on the new computer-enhanced questions that the state had asked to be included.
Indiana chose to include the new academic standards last year and then made changes to the test questions to match up the exam with the standards.
Steve Yager, board member of the Indiana State Board of Education (IDOE), said, “You stand here and say you’ll deliver this, but I’ll believe it when I see it.” “What’s happening is boys and girls are just being damaged and teachers are being damaged by the ineffective practices of your company.” Teachers receive “grades” as well following the release of scores that is a factor in deciding their pay and if they can receive raises.
And… the ramifications continue. Each year the IDOE assigns grades from A-F for schools and school corporations. Without the students’ test scores, there would be a delay in school grades being formulated. Release of schools grades could be delayed until January or even February of 2016.
In the spring of 2013, some 78,000 kids took the test, but about 16 percent experienced interruptions while they were taking the computer-based test. Scores were delayed and not released under December. In 2011 , 10,000 students had testing problems and in 2012, 9,000 students had similar issues. In 2013, the state and the testing company reached a settlement that cost CTB/McGraw Hill $3 million.
Carol Anders Correspondent
