Gov. Mike Pence calls for ISTEP test to be shortened

On Monday, Gov. Mike Pence ordered an emergency review of the ISTEP exam and called on Indiana Superintendent Glenda Ritz to cut the test's length from about 12 hours to six just weeks before the standardized test is scheduled to be given.

The governor lambasted the Indiana Department of Education and Ritz for doubling the length of ISTEP, which was overhauled to bring the exam in line with federal requirements and state mandates for math and English.

Pence earlier called for the strong state standards that lengthened ISTEP.

Although Pence ordered a swift review of the exam — which is scheduled to be given to students as soon as Feb. 25 — he lacks the legal authority to alter the test's content. That power rests with the Indiana Department of Education and Ritz, a Democrat who has been locked in a heated power struggle with the Republican governor over statewide education policy.

The governor said testing experts would make recommendations on how to shorten ISTEP, which would be given to 450,000 Hoosier students in grades 3 through 8. He did not name the experts or say how much that assessment would cost.

"Doubling the length of the ISTEP test is unacceptable, and I won't stand for it," Pence said. "Doubling the testing time for our kids is a hardship on them, it's a hardship on families, it's a hardship on our teachers. This is a moment that calls for decisive action."

The governor said he had the support of the General Assembly's leadership, who also want the ISTEP's length reduced.

Dan Altman, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Education, said department officials were unaware of the governor's plan to call for a reduced ISTEP exam until minutes before Pence made Monday's announcement.

"Obviously we're disappointed to see that he's apparently, again, attempting to work around the superintendent and around the Department of Education instead of with them," Altman said, adding that he hadn't seen a copy of the governor's executive order at that time.

A communication gap exists between the governor's office and the agency, but it is unclear where that breakdown occurred: Pence said Ritz assured him the test wouldn't be longer, while Altman said Ritz would have shared whatever information the department had with the governor.

Even though Altman acknowledged ISTEP is too long, he said the test was the result of complying with state and federal standards. Those requirements, though, don't specify the length of the test, which includes about 22 percent more reading, according to an analysis by the assessment expert employed by the Board of Education.

Earlier in the day, Ritz called for an emergency meeting of the Indiana Board of Education to discuss the test's length. That meeting must occur within seven days.

Republican legislators have been eager to strip Ritz, who was elected to her post as head of Indiana's schools, of her power over the State Board of Education. Legislation that would allow the board to elect its own leader is working its way through the Indiana General Assembly.

Call Star reporter Kris Turner at (317) 444-6047. Follow him on Twitter: @krisnturner.