A significant drop in scores on ILEARN compared to the state's old ISTEP test prompted calls from leaders across the state for lawmakers to avoid penalizing schools through state accountability measures.

Republican legislative leaders are urging the state to use 2018 ISTEP scores for school letter grades and teacher evaluations this school year, instead of 2019 ILEARN scores.

The states school accountability panel finalized its recommendations for the State Board of Education and General Assembly Tuesday.

Educators are pressing for an overhaul of the state's school accountability system.

Supporters of this grading system say it gives schools time to adjust. Critics say using growth as the only indicator of school success is misleading.

A state committee is recommending sweeping changes to rules for virtual charter schools in Indiana, as the group reached general agreement Monday on a drafted set of proposed policy changes.