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ILEARN 'Hold Harmless' School Accountability Legislation Sent To Governor

FILE PHOTO: WFIU/WTIU

Indiana teachers and schools will be shielded from penalties from last year’s poor statewide standardized test scores.

"Hold harmless” legislation was sent to the governor’s desk Monday.

The state used a new standardized test last year – ILEARN replaced the old ISTEP. Students scores on that new test dropped sharply. And leaders of both parties and the governor immediately called for a pause in accountability. That’s because those test scores have a significant impact, says Rep. Dale DeVon (R-Granger).

“It can affect funding for the schools," DeVon says. "It can affect pay, teacher pay as well.”

The accountability pause is for two years – and Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) says there’s work to be done during that period.

“We need to work very diligently on creating a testing system that actually works for our teachers, our parents and most importantly our children,” DeLaney says.

The bill now awaits Gov. Eric Holcomb’s signature to become law.

Contact Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.