In 2014, Pence stopped the Indiana Department of Education from applying for an $80 million grant that would have established a similar system.

The committee created by lawmakers to rewrite Indiana's standardized assessment, the ISTEP, met for the first time Tuesday. No decisions were made, yet it became clear to the educators, policymakers and lawmakers gathered that a vast amount of work lies ahead before their deadline just six months away.

Indiana Rep. Luke Messer, R-6th District, introduced federal legislation Wednesday that would block the Obama administration directive. But across Indiana, lawmakers search for answers of their own.

Republican Todd Rokita, who represents Indiana's 4th district, would tighten eligibility requirements that allow high-poverty schools to take full advantage of free and reduced lunch programs.

The panel is tasked with re-writing the state assessment, and will meet for the first time May 24.

State superintendent Glenda Ritz says the money established the Indiana Center on Teacher Quality at Indiana University, which focuses on increasing the number of qualified special education teachers in the state.

AP-TIP IN, started in 2012 as a way to get students in districts with high numbers of minorities and students living in poverty to enroll in AP science, math and English classes.

On Tuesday's primary ballot, 10 school districts appealed to voters to help fund public education in their districts. All but two passed.

Six Indiana educators, a former education policymaker and a teachers union representative are the first appointees to a panel that will decide the future of standardized testing in Indiana.

As the May 3 Indiana primary approaches, 10 school districts across the state are asking voters to raise taxes to fund school projects.