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State Legislators to Hold Hearings on ISTEP+ Glitches

In the wake of ISTEP testing disruptions that have called into question the validity of this year’s tests, the General Assembly this week will hold the first of two hearings investigating the issue.

Legislators initially hoped to have one comprehensive study committee hearing on ISTEP in June.  But with results of the tests and a third-party validation of those results not expected until July, Commission on Education co-chairs Bob Behning and Dennis Kruse will hold two meetings on the topic. 

Kruse says the first will be an opportunity for school superintendents and officials to air their grievances.

“I think it was an embarrassment,” Kruse said. “I think the kids suffered and I think it’s bad.  And I think they deserve an opportunity to have a public hearing.”

Behning says the second meeting will be held after the results are in, allowing the committee to consider solutions once they’re armed with more information.

“Exactly what happened, how we can prevent it in the future, who’s culpable for it and how we can protect the best interests of our students,” Behning said.

The first meeting takes place Friday in the Senate chamber.  The president of CTB/McGraw Hill, the testing company, is expected to testify.

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.