Perhaps every Hoosier school student who begins the ISTEP-Plus test in coming days or weeks should be greeted with a simple opening message: “This won’t be the worst day of your life.”
Some students may not be easily convinced of that. And given the emphasis on Indiana’s testing system and its unpredictability, we don’t blame them. It has been a long and bumpy ride.
The testing window opened for schools this week, and many districts were immediately hit with weather-related obstacles to their schedules. That clearly added to the stress of the annual statewide competency testing period, but anxiety was already high before snow, ice and another bout of bitter cold swept into the state.
Schools were hit with last-minute news that the test would be longer and more rigorous this year, a direct result of the state’s adoption of new and more extensive academic standards. But teachers, administrators and students seem to be adjusting to the tumultuous nature of public education these days in Indiana and elsewhere. We’re impressed by that, just as we’ve been disappointed, even disgusted at times, with the state educational establishment’s inability to cope with political upheavals that have created profound dysfunction in the system.
It serves as additional notice to Hoosier taxpayers that their state government is doing a poor job administering education. The driving force seems to be politics and ideology, not the best interests of students. Exhibit A of that indictment is the current legislative efforts, driven by the Republican super majority and Gov. Mike Pence, to strip Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, the only elected Democrat in statewide office, of her authority as chair of the state Board of Education.
They say their efforts are intended to correct the dysfunction they readily admit permeates the educational system at top administrative levels, but they choose to ignore the fact that their direct actions are what actually created the dysfunction.
The drastically changed academic standards that led to the new ISTEP-Plus test being ridiculously longer and more difficult for students this year should not have been mandated as they were. Even though state officials and legislators moved quickly to shorten the test when it became apparent what they had done, they still must face up to the responsibility that they’ve mishandled this phase of education for no other reason than to inflict partisan damage on a political foe.
Standardized testing has a place in public education. All levels of the system must be accountable for their performance. But Indiana’s testing process has gone too far, and the increased reliance on testing as a guide to assessing performance must be reined in.
We applaud the hard work, perseverance and dedication to teaching and learning that are shown routinely by those on the front lines of education in our state — teachers, administrators and, yes, students themselves. They are often the collateral damage, and true heroes, in this political war. They will survive this testing period just fine and move forward in their work.
The stress associated with the ISTEP-Plus test this year will pass. We hope everyone handles the test well, and that any negative fallout from testing results will not be severe.
Meanwhile, it will be up to voters to understand and acknowledge what has happened and take appropriate measures at the polls to rectify this chronic and shameful situation.