Read The Report Lawmakers Used To Shrink The Spring ISTEP+

Following the scramble to shrink this year’s ISTEP+, Gov. Mike Pence Monday released the full report state leaders used to help them take action on the test.

National consultants Edward Roeber and Bill Auty assembled the brief last month, after Pence hired them to advise state Superintendent Glenda Ritz, the Indiana Department of Education, State Board of Education and members of the General Assembly.

Edward Roeber, a national testing consultant hired through Gov. Pence’s executive order, presents his plan to shorten this year’s ISTEP to the State Board of Education last month. (Photo Credit: Claire McInerny/StateImpact Indiana)

The governor tasked the group with figuring out how to shorten the state’s annual standardized test after the IDOE notified schools that students would sit for an average of 12 hours to complete the test – significantly longer than last year.

“I commend these nationally-recognized assessment experts for their efforts to thoroughly and efficiently review and make recommendations to shorten the 2015 test,” Pence said in a statement. “Indiana’s students, teachers and families deserved no less.”

Pence also says the report provides insights to be considered regarding next year’s test.

“Based on the results of 2015 tests, IDOE should investigate the feasibility of shortening the ISTEP+ tests in 2016 and beyond,” the report reads.

Remember, the current test marks step one in a transition for Indiana – after pulling out of Common Core State Standards and the associated national testing consortium, language in Indiana’s No Child Left Behind waiver required the state to provide a state test matching state standards.

Indiana is still in the planning stages of creating a test for spring 2016. Some of the fixes on this year’s assessment included pilot testing questions for next year, as well as saving others for use on fall practice materials.