State Moves to Streamline ISTEP Exams

The Indiana Department of Education says it will reduce the duration of this year's ISTEP+ test across-the-board by more than three hours. The move follows an emergency meeting of the State Board of Education this morning, which included time-saving recommendations from independent consultants as ordered by Governor Mike Pence. House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-88) and Senate Majority Leader David Long (R-16) have both said they are prepared help expedite legislation involving shorter tests, if necessary.

February 13, 2015

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – This morning, Indiana's Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz announced that the Indiana Department of Education has reduced the length of the 2015 spring ISTEP+ by over three hours for all Indiana students in all grades. In addition, Superintendent Ritz announced that the Department of Education would seek legislative support to suspend the Social Studies portion of the ISTEP+ for students in grades 5 and 7. This would further reduce their testing by over one hour.

The announcement was made during this morning's special meeting of the State Board of Education. Superintendent Ritz has been working diligently with Indiana’s other elected leaders to find ways to reduce the burden that Indiana’s high-stakes testing system has had on all schools, students, parents and educators.

The time reduction will come from modifying the way that certain questions are piloted for the next testing year. In short, the Department will ensure that students are tested on half of the pilot questions during Part One of the ISTEP+ administration, while ensuring that all pilot questions are taken by enough students to guarantee validity for future use. Additional technical information will be communicated to schools in the immediate future.

Source: The Indiana Department of Education