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May 23, 2013

After Disrupted Exams, Indiana’s Largest District Says It Won’t Accept ISTEP+ Results

A Carpe Diem student logs into a computer in the school's "learning center," where each student has his or her own workstation.

After widespread disruptions to the online standardized tests used to evaluate Indiana students, teachers and schools, the state’s largest school district announced Wednesday it “has refused to accept results — good or bad — from this year’s ISTEP+ exam,” reports the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette’s Sarah Janssen: Fort Wayne Community Schools… is calling on lawmakers [...]

May 20, 2013

Listen: How I Explained Indiana’s A-F Ratings To High School Students

I spoke to the AP Statistics class at Ben Davis High School about how the A-F rating system worked.

May 15, 2013

‘It’s Final’: Ball State Rejects Appeals, Pulls Backing From Five Indiana Charter Schools

Students at Charter School of the Dunes in Gary turned their January academic showcase into a rally to keep their school open after Ball State officials announced they were pulling their sponsorship. The school ultimately found a new authorizer, but five other charters' appeals were officially rejected on Wednesday, May 15.

In total, Ball State will not authorize nine of the schools it sponsored this year, representing a quarter of its charter portfolio — the largest in the state, currently.

Does Indiana Have A ‘Mediocre’ Track Record On Remediation?

When it comes to Indiana’s education track record, “‘Mediocre’ might even be a stretch,” opines CNHI statehouse reporter Maureen Hayden.

May 14, 2013

Three Takeaways From Indiana’s 2012 Graduation Numbers

Indiana high schools’ graduation rate ticked upward again in 2012, a jump of more than 10 percentage points over five years.

Herald Bulletin: New Law Will Require Remediation For Indiana High School Juniors

CNHI statehouse reporter Maureen Hayden writes about a bill requiring schools to identify high school students who need help before graduation.

May 13, 2013

Another Online ISTEP+ Problem Temporarily Halts Testing In IPS Schools

An update on CTB/McGraw Hill's website saying schools can resume administering the online ISTEP+ after a new problem led at least one district to temporarily halt testing.

Indianapolis Public Schools briefly halted online ISTEP+ testing Monday morning after a new “network issue” disrupted the exams. But an update on the testing company’s website — as of 12:30 Eastern — says the issue “has been resolved,” and IPS administrators have given the go-ahead for schools to resume testing, district spokesperson John Althardt tells StateImpact.

May 9, 2013

Why Many Indiana Middle Schoolers Master State High School Math Exams

John Rice, a math teacher at Schmucker Middle School in Mishawaka, talks students in his eighth grade Algebra I class through a set of homework problems. Students in this class will take the Algebra I End of Course Assessment this year.

But pass rates on Indiana’s high school math exam take a tumble once high school begins. We break down the Algebra I “ECA.”

May 2, 2013

Duncan: We Should Keep Online Testing, But We Should Learn From ISTEP+ Failures

States will have to learn from the problems Indiana students faced Monday and Tuesday as online testing rollout continues, Duncan said.

We Have Indiana’s Contract With The Company That Provides ISTEP+ Online

State superintendent Glenda Ritz makes a presentation to the State Board of Education.

What does the contract say about penalties the state can impose if it has problems with the testing services CTB provides?

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