State Releases District Accountability Grades

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

The Indiana Department of Education has released the 2014-2015 A-F accountability grades for school corporations. Like the grades for individual schools, the corporations’ grades were not negatively affected by last year’s lower ISTEP results.

The grades were approved Wednesday by the State Board of Education. The report shows 46 percent of school corporations received an A grade, while 32.2 percent received a B. The state says 19 percent received a C and 2.4 percent received a D. Only one school corporation, Gary Community School Corp., received an F.

Because of legislation signed by Governor Mike Pence last year, the grades for school corporations could not be lower than the previous year. School corporations could only receive the same or higher grades.

"After more than 18 months spent advocating on behalf of Hoosier students, educators and schools, Indiana’s education community has been held harmless as we transitioned to more rigorous standards and a more rigorous, state-mandated, ISTEP+ assessment," said Indiana Superintendent for Public Instruction Glenda Ritz. "I am pleased to release school corporation accountability grades today which do not penalize schools and communities for this challenging transition. Hoosier students, educators and families have my gratitude for their dedication and hard work over the past year."

The bills signed by Pence not only protect schools and school corporations from last year’s ISTEP results, but also protect teacher pay.