INDIANAPOLIS — A Senate Republican's plan to protect schools from consequences tied to poor student performance on the 2015 ISTEP standardized exam was endorsed Monday by Glenda Ritz, the Democratic state superintendent of public instruction.
Senate Bill 200, sponsored by state Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, requires the State Board of Education assign schools their 2013-14 A-F grades for the 2014-15 school year, unless a school earned a higher grade last year.
Without the change, school grades are expected to drop significantly due to double-digit declines in the ISTEP passing rate, as Indiana transitions to a more difficult test associated with academic standards required by law to be "the highest standards in the United States."
Ritz, who has been pushing for a "hold harmless" provision over the past 18 months, said she is pleased Kruse and other Statehouse leaders now are on board.
"The current version of Senate Bill 200 is common sense legislation that allows schools time to adjust to our new standards and prevents unnecessary economic harm to our schools and communities," Ritz said."This bill has my strong support."
School grades determine which school buildings and districts face accountability consequences, including potential takeover by the state. They also can affect local property values.
The Kruse-led Senate Committee on Education and Career Development is set to review and possibly vote to approve the proposal at 12:30 p.m. region time Wednesday.
A separate school grades fix aimed at preserving teacher performance pay is expected to be considered by the Republican-controlled House early in the 10-week legislative session that begins Tuesday.
In October, Republican Gov. Mike Pence reversed his longstanding opposition to a school accountability pause, but has not specifically said how he believes schools grades should be changed.
The Indiana State Board of Education already has missed its Dec. 31 statutory deadline for assigning 2014-15 school grades.
Kruse's legislation retroactively authorizes the board to still issue the grades.