State Releases ISTEP+ Scores

The Dual Language Immersion Pilot Program is in its second year.

The Indiana Department of Education has released statewide and local 2016 ISTEP+ scores. The results come as a 23-member panel searches for an alternative to the current ISTEP exam, which will be eliminated next summer.

The results say 66.1 percent of students in grades 3-8 passed the English/Language Arts section, 58.9 percent passed the Mathematics section and 51.6 percent passed both sections. Those numbers are slightly lower than last year’s exam.

The IDOE says 64.9 percent of 4th and 6th grade students passed the Science section, while 64.2 percent of 5th and 7th grade students passed the Social Studies section. Additionally, 58.8 percent of students in grade 10 passed the Science section.

The department says Indiana continues to transition to new standards and assessment established in 2015. Tenth grade students took a new state assessment in 2016 which focused more rigorous college and career ready standards.

"Transitions are never easy, but I want to applaud the students, educators and families across the state who have worked tirelessly to shift to more rigorous college and career ready standards over the past two years," said Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz. "Today’s results reflect Indiana’s focus on student progress towards more rigorous benchmarks for college and career readiness. However, it is important to remember that our students, schools and teachers are more than just a test score."

Earlier this year, Governor Mike Pence signed House Enrolled Act 1395 into law, eliminating the ISTEP+ exam, effective July 1, 2017. The bill also established the ISTEP Replacement Panel, which will submit recommendations for an alternative exam to Pence by December 1.

Last month, Ritz unveiled details of her recommended ISTEP replacement, known as the Indiana OnTrack Assessment System.

You can download each ISTEP+ report from the IDOE below:

2016 Statewide numbers (Grades 3-8)

2016 Statewide numbers (Grade 10)

2016 Corporation numbers (Grades 3-8)

2016 Corporation numbers (Grade 10)

2016 School numbers (Grades 3-8)

2016 School numbers (Grade 10)