It should be clear to everyone by now that the new ISTEP Plus test is a stinker. In terms of its ability to accurately measure student performance and inform educators, parents and students, the test flunked.
According to the results of this test, some of the Region's best schools could be rated lower.
"If something is not done legislatively to fix Indiana’s accountability system, the vast majority of schools across the state of Indiana will be slapped with a grade of C, D or F," the Northwest Indiana Public School Study Council members wrote in a Dec. 8 guest commentary.
And given the expected firestorm, which has already begun, the Indiana Department of Education said the long-delayed release of student scores from last spring's ISTEP exams was being pushed back from this month until Jan. 6.
Delaying the results is hardly helpful in bringing kids up to speed; it doesn't give much time for remediation. Subjecting students to a flawed test isn't helpful, either.
The ISTEP is in stark contrast with the National Assessment of Educational Progress, often referred to as "the nation's report card." On that test, Hoosier students showed improvement in 2015.
Given the continuing trouble with standardized tests in Indiana, we’re inclined to agree with state Sen. Luke Kenley, who offered legislation last year that would have required Indiana to use an off-the-shelf test to both save money and avoid the flaws that seem to be cropping up with the ISTEP.
Kenley, chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, is a force for Indiana education officials and others to reckon with. His idea of a more standard standardized test could be a boon to a state officials who have struggled to get education standards and standardized testing right.
An added advantage to a standard standardized test is that Hoosier students would be more easily compared to their peers elsewhere in the United States. What’s so bad about that? Those are the same people they’ll be competing against in the workforce, so get used to it.
The ISTEP failure this year should prompt action next year to get this straightened out for future Hoosier students.