Latest news with #HouseBill1498
Indianapolis Star
5 days ago
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana unveils draft of A-F school grades model valuing tests and student skills
The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) released its first draft of its new grading model for schools that, for the first time in the state's history, takes into account not just test scores, but also a student's unique educational experience. The department was tasked with creating a new A-F school grading model after lawmakers passed House Bill 1498 this legislative session. Now, the state must create a new methodology for grading how schools perform and hand out letter grades for each campus by the end of 2026. On June 4, 2025, state leaders presented the first draft of the grading model to the Indiana State Board of Education and Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner says it elevates academic mastery and skill development to be successful after high school. 'While the specifics will iterate along the way, our primary goal will remain the same: to ensure that our future accountability model values all of the key characteristics essential to student success, as well as every student's unique pathway,' Jenner said in a statement. The board must approve the grading criteria by the end of 2025, but it will have a series of public hearings and likely publish a second draft before the model reaches its final vote. This first draft of the grading model was made with the foundation of considering the five characteristics already used in the state's 'Graduates Prepared to Succeed' platform, which gathers data points to evaluate schools on: To evaluate academic mastery, the state will look at standardized test scores from ILEARN, IREAD and the SAT. To grade career and postsecondary readiness, they will see how many diploma seals are earned. To grade work ethic, the state will look at attendance rates. Evaluating the civic, financial and digital literacy will come from the required coursework mandatory for all students in those fields. Grading the communication and collaboration characteristics is being formulated. This draft of how schools will be graded looks at specific points in a student's K-12 journey, with an emphasis on grades 3-8, 10th grade and 12th grade. The letter grades for schools in this first draft are based on the 0-100 scale with an 'F' grade meaning schools only got 0-59 points, a 'D' grade 60-69 points, a 'C' grade 70-79 points, a 'B' grade 80-89 points and an 'A' grade is 90-100 points. At the elementary level, schools will be graded on how well students perform on ELA and math standardized testing, as well as reading proficiency, specifically among third graders. Attendance will also be a factor in how schools are graded. Schools teaching students in grades 4-6 will be graded on how well students perform on math, science and social studies tests, as well as whether students are progressing academically compared to the prior year. More background on this move: Indiana schools will again receive A-F grades, but how they will be measured undecided High schools will be judged, in part, on students' SAT performance, graduation rates, work-based learning, and certain credentials or college-level credits earned. The draft also includes a possibility of grading schools on how many English language learning students meet their language proficiency goals that year. While the formal 30-day public feedback window isn't technically open yet, parents can submit feedback to the IDOE on this first draft starting now. Anyone who wishes to submit feedback can do so through an online Jotform. Once the 30-day public comment period opens later this summer, the IDOE will also hold a public hearing where anyone can provide comments in person. A second draft is expected to be shared late summer or early fall, in which another 30-day window of public comment will happen. Keep up with school news: Sign up for Study Hall, IndyStar's free weekly education newsletter.
Indianapolis Star
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana brings back A-F grades, but exactly how schools will be measured undecided
Schools across Indiana will start seeing A-F letter grades again in 2026, thanks to a law signed by Gov. Mike Braun after the practice was suspended for seven years. House Bill 1498 requires the state board of education to approve a new methodology for school performance by the end of this year and then assign schools A-F grades based on that new methodology. The final vote on the bill in the House fell mostly along party lines with a 65-25 vote. The bill also includes some specifics that the methodology must be based upon metrics listed in the Indiana Department of Education's Graduates Prepared to Succeed (GPS) dashboard, including proficiency rates for IREAD and ILEARN and the attainment of diploma seals. However, the bill also allows the state board of education to include whatever other factors they deem necessary in the methodology. The state must hand out letter grades for all schools across the state, including private schools, no later than Dec. 31, 2026. Schools would not get a letter grade for the 2024-25 year. Indiana stopped handing out letter grades in 2018 as the state was attempting to revamp the grading methodology to accommodate the new ILEARN test. Then, grades were delayed even further due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said during the House Education committee hearing on HB 1498 that previously she had advocated moving away from a single letter grade for schools, but admitted parents had come to her asking for an easier way to understand how schools are doing. More School news: ACLU sues Gov. Mike Braun after law eliminates Indiana University trustee elections She said parents found the many metrics listed on the Indiana GPS dashboard to be confusing and wanted an easier way to gauge a school's success. The bill also allows the IDOE to consider eliminating high school diploma waivers altogether, which allow qualifying students to be exempt from certain graduation requirements under the state's 'graduation pathways.' Jenner said that since the state's overall waiver usage has been going down steadily in recent years, she doesn't see the need to make drastic changes to that right now. 'Our data is going in the right direction there, and I think we have to ensure we're working with schools, parents and families so we're never pulling the rug out too early,' Jenner said during the House Education Committee meeting in January. Some Democratic lawmakers said during committee hearings on the bill that they think using a single letter grade is too simplistic for something as complex as how a school is working for its students. Rep. Ed Delaney, D-Indianapolis, suggested that rather than a letter grade, schools instead be shown as either needing state intervention or not. His amendment to include that failed to pass. Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, said during the Senate committee hearing on the bill that he hopes the metrics for grading include more than just testing scores, which could unfairly punish predominantly low-income schools compared to wealthier schools. Erin Geddes, who sends her three kids to Warren Township schools, told IndyStar she's worried the letter grades will just further divide wealthy districts from the lower-income ones. More changes coming: Once a school board member, Gov. Braun signs law making school board elections partisan 'These grades do nothing to highlight excellent teachers and administrative staff who are doing everything they can with what resources, support, or home life their students come from,' Geddes said. Instead, Geddes thinks the state should be asking families how they would grade their schools. 'Ask us parents because we're the experts on our own kids, and that way it isn't a collective punishment on our own schools, which we chose for our kids,' Geddes said. Other parents like Jennifer Goetz, who has three children at Avon Community schools and was a former teacher at a Chicago public school, believe the letter grades will reinforce the wrong things. She's worried the grades will further pressure schools to only teach students how to pass tests, instead of making sure they learn the skills they need to be strong in reading and math in the future. 'That's what I saw when I was teaching in Chicago, just the pressure to meet the grades and not necessarily ensure authentic learning was happening,' Goetz told IndyStar. However, getting back to delivering a letter grade for every public and private school in Indiana is something that lawmakers and the state department have been wanting since the state's newest standardized test, ILEARN, was implemented. Republican lawmakers supporting the bill said letter grades are an important aspect of holding schools responsible for student success. "School accountability is really important and this is a giant step in that direction," said Sen. Spencer Deery, R-West Lafayette, during floor discussion on the bill. During the January state board of education meeting, Jenner gave a presentation on a tentative framework of what the state's accountability model for grade schools could be based on. During that meeting, she explained that the current grading model for grades 3-8 is primarily focused on state assessments and academic growth. For high school grades, it was based on state assessments and other indicators like college and career readiness and graduation rates. Keep up with school news: Sign up for Study Hall, IndyStar's free weekly education newsletter. Some of the changes Jenner then proposed for grading third grade included literacy rates, something already required under HB 1498, but also student attendance improvements. For grades 4-8, Jenner proposed attendance metrics as well as growth in ILEARN math and ELA, as well as advanced coursework. For the high school grades, Jenner suggested that attendance metrics, advanced coursework, attainment of diploma seals, work-based learning and earning credentials of value be included in the grading metrics.
Axios
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Indiana Statehouse: Letter grades and partisan school boards on agenda
There are six weeks left in the legislative session and just three weeks to get bills passed out of committee. Why it matters: It's getting close to crunch time, when lawmakers start compromising on, cutting or killing each other's bills. Yes, and: The budget, property tax relief and health care costs — all priority issues heading into session — are hitting snags that likely won't get worked out this week. Here's what we're watching instead: 🟢 Partisan school boards nearing finish line Should it pass the House, which could vote as early as Monday, Senate Bill 287 will have passed both chambers — a first for a bill to make Indiana's school board elections partisan. Yes, but: The version passed by the Senate is substantially different from what the House is considering, so there's no guarantee lawmakers will come to an agreement. The Senate would have school board candidates follow the same nomination process as any other political candidate, while the House version skips primaries and still provides a nonpartisan option. What's next: If the House passes SB 287, the Senate could accept the new version or go to a conference committee and work out a compromise. 🟢 A-F grades coming back Schools could soon get graded again if House Bill 1498 passes the Senate. It's up for floor amendments as early as today, which means it could get a final vote in that chamber later this week. How it works: The bill would have the State Board of Education remake Indiana's school accountability system for what feels like the umpteenth time. It would go back to an A-to-F system, but taking into account more than just test scores. The state currently uses an "accountability dashboard" that displays various performance metrics. The bill instructs the board to include "other factors" it considers relevant, which would likely include chronic absenteeism rates and third-grade reading proficiency. ⏳ Rethinking religious education time Senate Bill 255 would allow high school students to miss more classroom time to attend religious instruction during the school day. Flashback: Last year, lawmakers passed legislation requiring schools to permit students to leave school for two hours each week for religious instruction. Sen. Spencer Deery, R-West Lafayette, said that equates to kids missing class 2.5 days a week. "That's not good for the schools, the students, that's not good for anybody," he said. The latest: SB 255 would give high school students more time, essentially letting them replace one elective course with religious instruction provided outside their school — rather than missing half a class each week. Yes, but: Rep. Bob Behning, chair of the House Education Committee, did not hold a vote on the bill last week saying the committee needed more time to understand it. An agenda for this week's education committee hasn't been released yet. 🚬 Cigarette tax on the table House Bill 1001 is still sitting with the Senate Appropriations Committee, which took public testimony on the state's two-year spending plan last week. Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, told reporters his caucus is more open this year to raising the cigarette tax than it has been in the past. What he's saying:"Perhaps that's partly because there's some challenges that we have," Bray said. "It's going to be a challenging budget year in the best of circumstances, even assuming that the April forecast doesn't get worse and that's not guaranteed because it looks like it could be problematic."
Chicago Tribune
28-02-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
State education bills on the move at halfway mark; session picks back up Monday
Education bills in the Indiana Statehouse drew scrutiny and controversy as the surviving bills head to the opposite chamber as the budget session reaches its halfway mark. After a week off, lawmakers return to Indianapolis on Monday. The session is scheduled to end April 29. Education spending, about half of the two-year $46.7 billion budget, often is contentious. A Senate bill directing traditional public schools to share property tax revenue with charter schools passed by a 28-21 vote after hours of debate Feb. 20 as the first half neared its end. The bill calls for property tax sharing if 100 or more students in a district's boundaries attend a charter school. The districts would also have to share a portion of their debt service levy. It drew expected opposition from Northwest Indiana Democrats but this time they were joined by Republicans Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, and Mike Bohacek, R-Michigan City. The bill passed 28-21. Charter schools are typically located in urban districts that lean strongly Democratic. Republicans, who control the Senate by a 40-10 margin, are often their biggest supporters. All 18 Democratic amendments to change the bill failed. 'If this body is truly about choice, then why (does) choice have to come at the expense of the choice of a million people going to traditional schools?' said Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis. 'The clear losers here are the students and the parents who have chosen to send their students to traditional public schools,' said Sen. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington. 'We hear people talk about school choice, but it robs tax dollars from the parents of 90% of our future students who choose public schools.' Locally, the bill would have the biggest impact on the Gary Community School Corp., just emerging from seven years of state control. The city is home to six charter schools. Last fall, there were 11,764 students in Gary's district boundaries and just 35%, or 4,144, attended the school district. The remainder, or nearly 7,000 students, turned to charters, neighboring districts or private schools. Officials at the Indianapolis Public Schools said as many as 20 schools could be closed with staff layoffs if the bill passes. The bill's author, Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, said she supports the principle of property tax money following the student. 'Those tax dollars, for years, have not followed their children. Today we need to make that change.' Rogers said traditional public schools are receiving property tax dollars for students they aren't educating. Responding to critics who say charter school board members aren't elected, Rogers added a provision allowing traditional public schools to appoint a member to a charter school's board. Here's a look at other bills that passed. A-F grades: House Bill 1498 requires the Department of Education to establish a new A-F grading system to take effect next year. IREAD: House Bill 1499 allows certain students to retake the IREAD exam at least twice in the summer before retention requirements apply. Certain English language students would be exempt from compliance with the retention requirement. Chronic absenteeism: House Bill 1201 prohibits a school from expelling or suspending a student who's been chronically absent or habitually truant. It requires the Department of Education to establish best discipline practices for chronically absent students. Senate Bill 482, which also addresses chronic absenteeism, passed in the Senate. Transgender athlete ban: House Bill 1041 bans transgender women from participating in collegiate athletics. Education deregulation: House Bill 1002 eases long-held policies, removing certain teacher training and professional development requirements, expired provisions and repealed unfunded grants. It also eliminated the education credential requirement for the Indiana Secretary of Education. Partisan school board: Senate Bill 267 calls for school board candidates to declare a party affiliation. Teacher Compensation: Senate Bill 249 permits school corporations to provide a supplemental payment to teachers in excess of already negotiated salary. Bullying: House Bill 1539 expands the definition of bullying to include severe one-time acts. It gives schools one business day to notify parents of the alleged perpetrator and targeted students. The current time is five days. Chaplains: Senate Bill 523 allows a principal or superintendent of a public school, including a charter school, to approve bringing in a school chaplain if certain requirements are met.
Chicago Tribune
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Lawmakers eye restoring A-F grades with expanded criteria
Indiana's dormant A-F school grading assessment program is on track for an overhaul with a new methodology to rate school performance. House Bill 1498 cleared the full House by a 62-28 vote Tuesday and is headed to the Senate for consideration. Indianapolis Republican state Rep. Robert Behning, who chairs the Education Committee, authored the bill that tasks the Department of Education and State Board of Education to develop a framework for the new accountability system. The bill repeals the previous methodology. Education officials would be charged with developing the new grading benchmarks by the end of 2025 with grades assigned to public and state-accredited private schools in 2026. No grades will be given this year. After Behning introduced the bill, State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, cautioned the fallout letter grades create. In Gary, it led to an unsuccessful state takeover of Roosevelt High School, which has since been shuttered. 'There's a danger in labeling schools and it has an impact on the community,' he said. Schools have not received letter grades since 2018 when the DOE moved from the ISTEP exam to a new accountability test called ILEARN. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted testing, and no grades were assigned. Presently, the state's assessment system rates students in grades 3-8 based on academic performance and growth on ILEARN. High school grades are based on SAT scores, graduation rates and college and career readiness. State Secretary of Education Katie Jenner told the House Education Committee last week the state board would likely add IREAD literacy scores, student attendance and chronic absenteeism to the third grade assessment. Schools in grades 4-8 would be evaluated on ILEARN proficiency in math and English, attendance data and advanced courses. High schools in grades 9-12 would be graded on measures that dovetail with the state's new diploma standards just approved by the state board in December. Local educators generally supported the bill. 'Personally, I do not have a problem with being held accountable for the job we're responsible for in educating our children,' said East Porter Superintendent Aaron Case. Students in East Porter's small district have long been strong performers in past accountability measures. 'My concern, though, is the consistency of the grading system,' Case said. 'Often, these systems lack clear, stable metrics, making them a moving target. It's difficult to aim for a specific grade when the criteria can shift.' Case said unfunded mandates often accompany accountability measures while the goalposts keep moving. 'Essentially, we're being asked to run a race with hurdles, but the hurdles keep changing height and we're not given the resources to clear them effectively,' he said. River Forest Superintendent Kevin Trezak said students in wealthier communities typically always receive better grades than those in poor communities. He said the A-F grading system has become less punitive over the years but results remain the same. 'Because of this, I have deep-rooted convictions that this, and similar systems across the country, are flawed,' he said. Nonetheless, Trezak said schools aim for improvement and self-reflection to do what's best for students. 'We welcome accountability and want to gauge how we are doing and where we can make adjustments.'
