Synopsis: ISTEP. Provides that the ISTEP test must be administered
during the spring semester for school years beginning after June 30,
2007. Provides for a pilot test of spring ISTEP testing in May 2007.
Requires the department of education, subject to the approval of the
state board, to develop a ten year plan for student diagnostic and
summative achievement assessment before August 1, 2006. Removes
the requirement for the plan to include online assessments. Requires
the plan to include the movement towards online testing and results.
Requires the plan to include administering annual student assessments
and graduate examinations during the period each year from May 1 to
the end of the school year. Allows school corporations to make
decisions for remediation of students based on multiple factors, which
may include either intrayear diagnostic assessments or end of the year
assessments. Requires the department of education, the office of
management and budget, and the attorney general to develop a process
for a long term contract with an assessment provider that solicits
interest from assessment companies serving school systems in the
United States. Provides for a transfer of money from the build Indiana
fund to the state general fund for the establishment of a spring ISTEP
testing program.
Effective: Upon passage; July 1, 2006.
January 10, 2006, read first time and referred to Committee on Education.
January 17, 2006, reported _ Do Pass. Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
pursuant to House Rule 127.
January 26, 2006, amended, reported _ Do Pass.
January 30, 2006, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
education.
through 8 that assess whether students are proficient in the
subject matter of the grades in language arts (including
English), mathematics, science, and social studies, as
determined by the academic standards applicable to the
subjects and grades;
(C)
end of course assessments in grades 9 through 12 that
assess whether students are proficient in the subject matter
of the courses in language arts (including English),
mathematics, science, and social studies, as determined by
the academic standards applicable to the subjects and
courses;
(D)
a new graduate examination, effective at least for the
students expected to graduate at the end of the school year
beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2012, that
confirms that the student has demonstrated the knowledge
and skills necessary for success in postsecondary
education, workplace education, and lifelong learning; and
(E) a separate written essay examination for each grade
that must be reported as a separate part of the assessment
results and that must be used independently by teachers
and schools to determine whether the student is writing at
a level commensurate with the needs and expectations of
learning and communicating at that grade level;
(3) moves toward the use of online testing to provide ease of
use and timely return of results; and
(4) supports an annual cycle of learning, assessment, and
feedback that:
(A) provides question banks and means for diagnostic
assessments for teachers to use during the school year to
assess whether students are performing below, at, or above
expectations for each subject and grade;
(B) administers annual student assessments and graduate
examinations during the period each year from May 1 to
the end of the school year;
(C)
reports results to teachers, parents, communities, and
the federal government before July 16 each year; and
(D) provides for a common method and means by which
teachers shall grade the independent written essay.
(b) Before October 1, 2006, the department, the office of
management and budget, and the attorney general shall develop
specifications and a process for a long term contract with an
assessment provider to implement the plan developed under this
section. The department shall consult with postsecondary
education and workplace employers in Indiana to ensure that the
specifications comply with subsection (a)(1)(C). The department
shall consult with superintendents in Indiana to ensure that the
specifications comply with subsection (a)(2)(A). The specifications
must comply with this section. The initial specifications must
provide for pilot assessments to be given in the period during the
first two (2) weeks that end in May 2007 and annual assessments
to be given during the first two (2) weeks that end in May 2008.
The process must solicit interest from assessment companies
serving school systems in the United States, put out a request for
proposals, and solicit proposals for a plan to transition to the
assessment system provided for in this section and manage the
system, subject to the specifications, until the school year beginning
July 1, 2017, and ending June 30, 2018, notwithstanding any other
law that limits the maximum term of state contracts. Proposals
received shall be reviewed jointly by the department and the office
of management and budget, which shall jointly determine the
successful bidder, subject to the approval of the attorney general
for form and legality of the bid process. The bid process must be
completed before January 1, 2007.
(c) If a successful bidder is selected, the pilot test described in
section 4(c)(3) of this chapter for the period during the first two (2)
weeks that end in May 2007 shall be replaced by the pilot
assessments described in this section.