ISTEP Pass Score Approval Could Be Delayed By State Board

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indiana State Board of Education official says it will likely put off a vote on setting the pass-fail levels for the ISTEP standardized exam that students took last spring.

Board spokesman Marc Lotter blamed that delay on a Department of Education report provided Tuesday night raising questions about potential differences in difficulty between the online and paper versions of the test.

The board was set to vote Wednesday on proposed pass-fail marks that could have seen double-digit drops in the percentage of students passing exam sections. Officials have said that's because it is the first test under more difficult state standards.

The much-maligned ISTEP exam has faced controversy over long hours of testing time and widespread disruptions as thousands of students were kicked off their online exams.

Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.

Indiana educators need new literacy training. The rollout is under fire

The Indiana State Teachers Association is demanding the state education department provide more and clear details of how educators are affected by the requirement.