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Educators, administrators worried about new ISTEP format

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For the third time since 2009, the Indiana State Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP) test will make changes to its format just months before students in grades 3rd through 8th are administered the assessment.

Teachers and administrators are worried about studentā€™s performance due to the lack of time they are given to prepare.

In March, Indiana decided to abandon Common Core, a set of standards for English and math, and was the first state to opt out of the program. Since the state cut ties, they were forced to develop their own set of standards called Indiana College and Career Readiness, which the 2015 test will align with. The federal government then demanded a new assessment for the 2014-2015 school year because the state was not in compliance with the No Child Left Behind waiver and could lose it if they decided not to cooperate.

ā€œWe donā€™t even know what the new standards look like,ā€ said John Coopman, executive director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents. ā€œWe have a timeline thatā€™s unrealistic to meet by way of having Indiana College and Career Readiness standards ready with an appropriate assessment. Itā€™s going to be very difficult for the state to put that together and have it administered.ā€

He said he finds the situation troubling because the way the new standards are taught are completely different than the previous standards. He worries about the lack of professional development teachers will be given.

ā€œWith any new rule, you have an implementation dip,ā€ he said. ā€œOur dip is going to be pretty significant. Their needs to be a significant public relations campaign to let legislators and our public know what to expect. Pick a district that normally has a high performing district and accustomed to having high scores – thatā€™s not going to happen. There could be a lot of backlash.ā€

The Indiana Department of Education anticipated changes to the test for the 2015-2016 school year, but according to Glenda Ritz, Democratic state schools chief, modifications had to be implemented as soon as possible. The waiver from No Child Left Behind, sets federal funding and standards for student pass rates.

Administrators are saying it may be September before more information is received. In just five months, the test will be given to more than 400,000 students.

Superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools, Dr. Lewis Ferebee said he has a mix of emotions when it comes to the new 2014 ISTEP scores that were released earlier this week, just in time for the start of school.

ā€œI think there are pockets of success we can build upon, but by no means am I satisfied or ready to run a victory lap, because we still have a lot of work to do,ā€ said Ferebee.

He said the district has received limited information on the accountability system. Currently by state law, ISTEP scores are used to determine teacher evaluations and A-F school ratings.

ā€œWhat we were told for this school year is it will be very similar to what we had in the past but it will incorporate new state standards. For school year 2015-2016, there will be a dramatic change for overall state tests. The best thing we can do is ensure our teachers understand very deeply all of our standards.ā€

Ferebee believes the district has a strong voice on the state level.

Students and parents currently have access to blueprints of the test located on the department of educationā€™s website.

At Recorder press time, ā€œThe Indiana Department of Education is currently awaiting word from the United States Department of Education regarding the stateā€™s waiver from certain aspects of No Child Left Behind,ā€ as stated by the department of education. Currently Indiana is one of 20 states waiting for approval.

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