Department of Education: CTB Did Not Misscore ISTEP+

An analysis conducted through the Indiana Department of Education found that the student ISTEP+ scores were not negatively impacted by the scoring process completed by the state’s test vendor, CTB.

This comes after anonymous allegations surfaced in an Indianapolis Star story earlier this month regarding CTB’s scoring processes. A handful of sources claiming to be CTB supervisors recounted “a computer malfunction that inadvertently changed grades” on the annual statewide test. They told the Star that company leaders decided to leave the potentially incorrect scores in place.

State Superintendent Glenda Ritz. (Photo Credit: Rachel Morello/StateImpact Indiana)

But the follow-up analysis – conducted by independent test experts at the request of staffers from both the IDOE and State Board of Education – found this was not the case. In their report, the experts found “no evidence that students were erroneously given a lower score on the Spring 2015 ISTEP+.”

State Superintendent Glenda Ritz says she’s pleased the state can move forward.

“Unfortunately, due to the high-stakes nature of the ISTEP+ assessment, any doubt about testing validity causes a ripple effect through our schools and our communities,” Ritz said in a statement.

Ritz also reiterated her opinion that this year’s scores should not be used in evaluating Indiana teachers and schools. Several members of the General Assembly – as well as Gov. Mike Pence – have said they plan to work on a solution at the outset of the legislative session in January to “decouple” ISTEP+ results from teacher evaluations for one year.