Senate Committee Approves Education Bill
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Indiana Senate Committee on Education and Career Development has approved Senate Bill 200,which protects schools from being penalized because of recent ISTEP performance. The bill, which was approved by a 10-1 vote, will now be considered by the full Senate.
The bill would hold schools harmless for their A-F accountability grades due to changes made to the ISTEP+ test. The vote came on the same day the ISTEP+ scores were released, showing a decline in scores statewide.
SB 200, authored by Sen. Dennis Kruse (R-14), would protect grades from the 2014-2015 school year from being marked lower than in 2013-2014. State Superintendent Glenda Ritz gave her support to the bill Monday, calling it "common sense legislation that allows schools time to adjust to our new standards and prevents unnecessary economic harm to our schools and communities."
The bill is one of the items the 2016 legislative agendas for both Governor Mike Pence and Senate Republicans. House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath called for the "demise" of the ISTEP test earlier this week.