An Indiana education official was allowed to suggest edits and changes to a report summarizing an independent investigation into the state's ISTEP exam.

Lawmakers want to overhaul standardized tests, but state and federal law could limit how much they change.

The bill, among other things, would create a panel of educators, legislators and community members to study and create a plan for moving to a new assessment type.

Grades approved by the board reflect changes signed into law last month. The law ensures lower ISTEP scores do not negatively impact schools during the state's transition to more rigorous college and career ready academic standards.

Gov. Mike Pence Thursday signed two bills that shield teachers and schools from the 2015 ISTEP+ scores.

Pearson Education is running the ISTEP exam that begins in February under a $33 million, two-year contract. A Pearson spokesman said the practice test is designed to stress the system so problems can be corrected.

The Hou­se Education Committee took a first look at a bill that calls for a re-score of the 2015 ISTEP+ assessment Tuesday. HB 1395, among other things, calls for an outside group to rescore last year's test.

Indiana lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved bills giving teachers and schools a one-year reprieve from being punished for poor student performance on ISTEP exams.

Rep. Clyde Kersey, wants to replace ISTEP with the Indiana Student Achievement Testing program, beginning in the 2017-2018 school year. The new exam would grade student performance in English/language arts, math, science and social studies.

Here's how badly Indiana's schools did on the new ISTEP: Just four of 1,500 public schools that took the 2015 exam had more kids pass than the year before.