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Scoring Glitch To Delay ISTEP Results

Last updated on Thursday, August 6, 2015

(UNDATED) - A scoring glitch will push back the release of this year’s ISTEP scores by a month.

CTB McGraw-Hill says students phrased correct answers to ISTEP's new open-ended questions in ways the testmaker hadn't anticipated. Graders are rescoring tests to make sure students get proper credit.

The company says it'll take at least an additional three weeks to complete scoring as a result, and probably a full month.

State Board of Education members voiced frustration at the delay, and wondered aloud whether the state can demand compensation.

Board member Steve Yager, a former superintendent, told CTB president Ellen Haley many fellow superintendents have "no confidence" in the company in the wake of problems including a computer freeze which disrupted the 2013 test.

The state announced earlier this year it would switch to rival testmaker Pearson for the 2016 ISTEP.

Haley notes the state requested a top-to-bottom rewrite of ISTEP to line up with new curriculum standards implemented after Indiana scrapped Common Core.

CTB expects to finish scoring in time for the board to determine a passing score in October. Students will get their scores in December, and school accountability grades, which rely heavily on ISTEP passing rates, will be delayed till February.

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