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Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Indiana weighs new academic accountability rules; test results less important
Indiana education officials are laying the groundwork for a new A-F accountability system they said is aligned with what Hoosiers agree are the characteristics important to lifelong success. The State Board of Education welcomed the first draft Wednesday on the K-12 measure that will go into effect next year to better prepare students for the future, they said. It dovetails with the state's newly revised diploma that becomes effective with the Class of 2029. It focuses on three areas – students preparing for college, the military or direct employment after high school. 'To best prepare students for the future – whether their next steps include college, a career or military service – we know that both knowledge and real-world skills are essential to their success,' said Gov. Mike Braun in a release. The new characteristics that indicators will measure are academic mastery, career and postsecondary readiness, credentials, experiences and work ethic. The process, built upon multiple rounds of public comment and feedback, is likely to consume most of the year. Its main change, however, is testing assessment scores will no longer be the sole letter grade criteria for school evaluations. A state law, authored by House Education Chairman Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, calls for two drafts, each with a 30-day public comment period. The first public comment period opens later this summer, but officials said the public can provide immediate feedback via Jotform, an online feedback/survey tool. The state also requires the State Board of Education to adopt a final draft of the A-F grading scale by Dec. 31. Democrats argued its results could still be punitive on schools with lower poverty rates. 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. The new grading system is expected to focus on math, English and literacy mastery in the lower grades and a shift toward skill development and work-based opportunities and credentials in high school. To offer feedback, see
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.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indiana Pacers mascot Boomer softens stressful test week in Wolcott
WOLCOTT — A four-legged figure with a bipedal jog-and-walk, catlike reflections and friendly disposition graced Tri-County Junior and Senior High School. Indiana Pacers mascot Boomer made an appearance in Wolcott on Monday at the suggestion of Tri-County Middle School English teacher Daniel Szombathy. The blue and yellow Pacers representative performed back-flip dunks while also encouraging students to study for the ILEARN test. "I just wanted (the students) to have a memory and get them motivated to take the ILEARN test," Szombathy said. "It's just a stressful week and maybe this could help them." More: Lafayette football coach spearheads state's first African American Studies course Szombathy became inspired through an experience he had a high school while growing up in Plymouth. Boomer showed up, and it stuck with him. Now he wanted his students to have the same experience before the ILEARN — Indiana's Learning Evaluation and Assessment Readiness Network — a state-mandated test assessing students' knowledge in English between the third through eighth grades, mathematics for grades three through eight, and science for students between the fourth and sixth grades. Fifth-graders also take the Social Studies portion. "The kids were going crazy," Szombathy said. "Boomer even took volunteers for some of the gags he had planned." More: Flying Squirrels assist Central Catholic girls basketball Szombathy explained the ILEARN week tends to be the toughest academically. His students will be taking the math and English portions this week, two for English and two for math. But there's a reward at the end of it for students if 50% or more receive passing grades. The reward? Letting the students shave Szombathy's head bald. "We were very fortunate for Boomer and the Indiana Pacers," Szombathy said. "We just needed him for one day, and the day we needed Boomer was the one day we had open. The kids had a blast." Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@ on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Indiana Pacers mascot Boomer visits Tri-County
Chicago Tribune
01-04-2025
- Climate
- Chicago Tribune
McCullough students regroup, relocate at new Gary school
About 500 McCullough Academy students settled into their new classrooms Monday at the spacious Gary Area Career Center as repair plans were being developed at their west side school after a March 19 tornado ripped its roof off. The kids had breakfast in the school cafeteria and ate bag lunches in their classrooms as they navigated the new building and lined up for restroom breaks. 'It feels different. It's new and I have to be more quiet,' said Sebastian Williams, 12. 'My teacher says we're in a high school.' Some of the younger students spent the day in the career center's multi-purpose room where several classes were held. Students in grades 3-5 were in smaller classrooms as teachers reviewed material for the upcoming ILEARN exam. Sebastian lives on West 21st Avenue, just down the street from McCullough, an elementary for grades K-5 at 3757 W. 21st Ave. He was home with his family when the EF-1 tornado bore down on Gary. 'I was kind of scared, the back of our shed door flew off and some shingles fell from the roof.' Sebastian and his family also got an early glimpse of the damage at McCullough where he's in 5th grade. The tornado tore the roof off the school gym. His family moved to a motel after the storm because their neighborhood lost power. Fifth grade teacher Desirae Hardy said there was some initial uncertainty about how classes would be divided up and for students to figure out where the bathrooms are. 'By day two, I think we'll have a better idea of how we'll operate,' she said. Kimora Johnson, 12, said being in a new school was 'a little weird.' She said her parents were surprised at the move to a new school, but she thinks it will all work out. When the storm came suddenly, McCullough students had already left for the day. Students at track practice, however, had just left the building when the tornado hit. No one was injured at the school. McCullough Principal Sharmayne McKinney said she got a phone call after the storm moved through and went back to the school to see water shooting out of the roof. 'Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that,' she said. Superintendent Yvonne Stokes checked out the classrooms at the Career Center and said repairs at McCullough likely won't be completed until mid-summer. 'We've got a wonderful space here that we're utilizing, but we do plan on getting our students back as soon as we can,' said Stokes on the return to McCullough. She didn't rule out returning students to the school this spring if the impacted areas can be safely walled off from students, while repairs are being done. She hoped they wouldn't be away from their school too long but it's too early to say. 'We just know that we want to make sure everything's safe,' said Stokes, citing the working condition of sprinkler systems and other equipment impacted by the tornado. Stokes said students will likely begin ILEARN testing April 14. She said it's still unclear if the students will be at the Career Center or back at McCullough when testing begins. In case they're at the Career Center, students in grade 3-5 are being housed in classrooms much like their old ones at McCullough so they can become familiar with their surroundings at testing time. 'We will be prepared, but what I will say is that disruptions like this can have an impact,' said Stokes. 'We're hoping and planning for it to be a positive impact for us.' McKinney praised her teachers for acclimating students to their new surroundings and keeping them focused as they prepare for the ILEARN. 'It's going to be fine. We're going to do the best that we can and our teachers are going to teach to get them prepared for the test,' she said. McKinney, in her sixth year as McCullough principal, said parents have been receptive to the school change and some even dropped their children off even though the Career Center is several miles from McCullough. The district provided buses to pick children up at McCullough. Parents are asked to drop their children off at McCullough between 7:15 and 7:30 a.m. Pickup is at 2:30 p.m. Stokes thanked the students and staff members for their cooperation and our parents and our community 'for just pivoting with us.'
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Testing Season Is Near: Here's Where Gary Students Can Get Tutoring Support
Standardized testing season is approaching, and for many Gary students, the stakes are high. Students who don't pass Indiana's standardized exams face additional studying requirements or are required to take summer school, but for third-graders, the consequences are even more severe. Those who fail the state's reading assessment risk being held back and required to repeat third grade. Recent results from Indiana's third-grade reading assessment highlight racial disparities in test performance: 88.3% of white students and 86.3% of Asian students passed, compared with just 68.6% of Black and Hispanic students, according to Indiana Department of Education testing data. The push for tutoring comes as three standardized tests mandated by the department are on the horizon for students. The state uses IREAD-3 to determine whether third-graders meet its literacy benchmarks before advancing to fourth grade. ISPROUT is used to assess kindergarten readiness based on early learning development. ILEARN, taken by students in grades 3-8, is the department's tool for measuring proficiency in English, math, science, and social studies. To help students and parents prepare, Capital B Gary has compiled a list of tutoring resources across the city. IREAD-3: March 31 & May 30 ISPROUT: April 14 & May 9 ILEARN: April 14 & May 16 City Life Center 225 W. Fifth Ave., Gary(210) 880-4851*Includes after school homework assistance YWCA of Northwest Indiana 150 W. 15th Ave., Gary (219) 881-9922 *Includes homework assistance 1831 Virginia St., Gary (219) 883-2720 Concept Tutoring 435 W. 35th Ave., Gary(888) 988-8674 Sparky Brains Tutoring 6600 Broadway, Merrillville (219) 801-9656*Also has locations in Gary and Griffith Sylvan Learning1070 W. 84th Drive, Merrillville(219) 472-1345 Gary Literacy Coalition 650 Grant St., Suite 8, Gary(219) 885-2229*Does not provide tutoring but serves as a resource for parents, connecting them to tutoring, homework help, and educational programs across Northwest Indiana. The post Testing Season Is Near: Here's Where Gary Students Can Get Tutoring Support appeared first on Capital B Gary.
