A move to replace ISTEP with a shorter test is on legislators' radar for a second straight year -- but the House and Senate have traded places.
Both chambers have passed bills calling for a study of what should replace ISTEP.
But the House bill abolishes ISTEP when the current contract runs out next year, with a new test making its debut in 2018.
Last year, it was the Senate which voted to eliminate ISTEP -- the House wanted to review the issue.
House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) says both chambers agree ISTEP is what he calls “a broken brand.”
“We know we have bills with different approaches,” Bosma says. “We’ll find a common ground on it that addresses the replacement of ISTEP.”
Bosma says testmakers told him creating a new test would take two years. He says the many failings of the 2015 test were the last straw.
“The administration of the test this year especially where teachers, parents and students didn’t have results eight months after the test was taken illustrated that change is required,” he says.
Bosma says he’s had it with ISTEP, a year after emergency action was necessary to lop six hours off the testing time, the state saw long delays in delivering scores, and a computer glitch interfered with the scoring of essay questions.
He says having a deadline to replace the test will make legislators less likely to try to put off doing anything, and predicts the House and Senate will find common ground before the session's end next month.
