INDIANAPOLIS (AP)
— A panel in charge of recommending a new state standardized test for
students remains divided on a replacement for the ISTEP exam.
State
Superintendent Glenda Ritz wants Indiana to use computer-based tests with
questions that adapt to students' skill levels in order to give teachers a
better understanding of what individuals know, the Indianapolis Star
reported.
But some
panelists, appointed by Gov. Mike Pence, say Indiana should keep a single
pass/fail exam and potentially offer additional tests that measure
students' progress.
Republican state
Rep. Robert Behning of Indianapolis suggested keeping the current system
while taking time to pilot other test designs.
But Ritz said
that plan would go against new Indiana law that requires the state to end
ISTEP after the upcoming school year.
Behning said he
doesn't want to rush the decision.
"I'm a little
concerned, based on where we are today, we're never going to get to where
we need to be in the timeline that we have allotted," Behning said.
Ritz, a Democrat
who is up for re-election this year, said that the state needs to think of
creative solutions.
"Just because
something hasn't been done before doesn't mean that it shouldn't," Ritz
said.
Some panel
members have resisted the idea of using an adaptive test because they
worry that some schools won't have the technology. Some are also concerned
that the adaptive tests wouldn't gauge whether students know what they
should for their grade level.