Members of the State Board of Education made stops throughout the state Monday to further explain why they have not approved pass-fail scores for this year’s ISTEP test.
The board has hired testing experts to review the differences in the level of difficulty between the online and paper/pencil versions of the test. The board wants to ensure the pass-fail scores are equal for both versions of the exam.
Sarah O’Brien, the board vice-chair, said there is public frustration and distrust over the state’s K-to-12 testing system.
"If we have slightest doubt that we are providing valid and accurate results, we’ve got to pause and make sure we are doing our due diligence to ensure that they are valid scores," she says.
The board is holding a special meeting October 28 and could possibly approve the scores then. It is still unknown when student ISTEP scores will be released.
