Educators Say Cuts To Students Testing Time Aren't Enough

GREENSBURG, Ind. (AP) — Efforts to reduce the time Indiana students will spend on standardized tests this year are getting mixed reviews from some educators, who say the changes don't go far enough.

Testing times for the ISTEP+ exam doubled to about 12 hours when the assessment was revamped to align with new state education standards. Parent and teacher protests prompted Gov. Mike Pence to hire two consultants to work with the Department of Education to shorten the test.

The department notified schools this week that it is shaving three hours from the exam.

Decatur Community Schools Assistant Superintendent Mike Langevin tells the Greensburg Daily News the testing time is still excessive. He says a required practice exam is longer than last year's ISTEP+ test.

Some parents are choosing not to test their children.