Pence: We Can Shorten ISTEP Test

Governor Mike Pence today promised that the upcoming ISTEP exam will be much shorter, yet still measure students’ grasp of the state’s new, tougher academic standards. He said State Superintendent Glenda Ritz will help him accomplish that.

That's just two days after openly questioning her integrity. The governor says he and Ritz are now working side-by side to reduce the exam’s length.

Pence has hired two outside consultants to work with exam vendor C-T-B/McGraw Hill and the Department of Education to reduce the test’s current 12-hour-length. Due to the combination of federal requirements and practice questions for next year’s ISTEP, the exam is twice as long as last year.

”There is a real spirit in this building between our administration, the Indiana Department of Education, members of the general assembly to work this problem, solve the problem, to lessen the burden on our kids and our families," he said. "And we will get that done.”

Tuesday Ritz's department told the media she was open to working with anyone on finding ways to shorten the test.

Pence says he’s spoken with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, telling him to expect requests for additional flexibility on the state’s waiver from strict federal guidelines. Compliance with those guidelines is crucial for Indiana to retain millions in federal dollars.

This week Pence has hired Edward Roeber of Michigan and Bill Auty, a former assistant superintendent of the Oregon Department of Education, to make suggestions to Ritz and CTB/McGraw-Hill, the company developing the exam. Both are working under a $22,000 contract.

The cost of changing the ISTP -- an exam taken by nearly 500,000 3-8 graders -- is unknown.

CTB President Ellen Halley sent a letter to Ritz and made seven recommendations of how the current exam could be shortened. Some ideas include: 

• Do not field test questions for the 2016 ISTEP
• Reduce the writing porition of Part 1
• Report total English and math scores only and delay more detailed reporting

But Halley cautioned that changes to the exam could have "implications with respect to Indiana legislative requirements, federal requirements, waivers, and peer review."

During Wednesday's press conference, Pence repeated that no state or federal regulations required a certain legenth for the test. 

The two consultants are expected to offer preliminary recommendations Friday on how the test can be shortened. Pence says there’s still time to reduce the test, even though schools have received materials ahead of the exam’s Feb. 25 start date.

The State Board of Education will meet Friday to discuss the ISTEP’s length, as well as a resolution by Ritz to suspend school and teacher accountability this year because of test concerns.

Contact WFYI reporter Eric Weddle at eweddle@wfyi.org or call (317) 614-0470. Follow on Twitter: @ericweddle.