Teachers, students and guardians can now expect to see ISTEP results released on Sept. 9, according to Indiana Department of Education spokesman Daniel Altman.
More than 79,000 students Indiana students in grades 3-8 not only had to endure system problems and delays during ISTEP testing at the end of April, but they still don’t know the results. Richard Hill, co-founder of the New Hampshire-based National Center for the Improvement of Education Assessment, was hired by the state Department of Education to conduct an independent review this year’s test scores. The company that provides the ISTEP assessment, CTB/McGraw-Hill, also conducted a review of the results.
Statewide, the review found testing interruptions didn’t cause a measurable negative impact on test scores, though that may not be the same for individual students.
The Department of Education is seeking no less than $613,600 in damages from CTB.
At a recent School Board meeting, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. Superintendent David Smith said he had expected results by the end of August, but told board members he wasn’t surprised they were once again delayed. A total of 3,831 EVSC students had their test sessions interrupted, a figure that officials reported to the Department of Education. In addition, Smith said system malfunctions also provided incorrect information to special needs students as they were taking the assessment.
In terms of accountability, Smith said state grades are based in large part on ISTEP results.
“We’re reviewing what had occurred with respect to the 2012 scores and the changing of scores ... until that’s done, we can’t issue anything for this year,” Altman said.