A public battle between Gov. Mike Pence and State Superintendent Glenda Ritz dominated headlines this week. At issue is the length of the state's standardized test for students grades 3 through 8 -- the ISTEP. This year's exam is expected to take 12 hours to complete -- nearly double the length of last year's test.

Pence said Wednesday he had talked with state schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz and that she had agreed to work with the two outside experts on the ISTEP+ exam.

The State Board of Education will consider a resolution proposed by the Department of Education that would suspend accountability for schools and teachers tied to results from the spring ISTEP+ exam. The board convenes Friday for a special meeting to address the length of this year's test, which sparked outrage from educators and parents when the news became public last week.

Multiple bills making their way through both the House and Senate aim to restructure the State Board of Education, after months of tension between state superintendent Glenda Ritz, board members and Gov. Mike Pence. Most of this legislation proposes removing the superintendent from her position as board chair - a spot that state official has traditionally, automatically assumed upon election into office.

Governor Mike Pence signed an executive order Monday to hire a nationally-recognized assessment expert to advise the state on how to shorten the 2015 ISTEP+ test.

Indiana Schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz is asking the State Board of Education to hold a special meeting on concerns about the longer time needed to complete Indiana's new statewide test.

Gov. Mike Pence has called on the Indiana General Assembly to make education a major focus of this year's current session. To help explain the legislative issues, 90.1 WFYI's Eric Weddle and Christopher Ayers will discuss a related topic Fridays during "Morning Edition" the next several weeks. This week, Chris and Eric discuss Indiana's school voucher programs and Governor Pence's proposal to lift the $4,800 choice scholarship cap for grades 1-8.

In an effort to improve Indiana's teacher evaluation system, the State Board of Education voted Wednesday to move forward with a set of recommendations from a third party education group.

Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Lewis Ferebee is pitching a plan to the State Board of Education to regain control over a former IPS school now under state intervention. But as WFYI's Eric Weddle reports, the state board isn't sure how to hand over the reins.