ISTEP Bills Pass Indiana House And Senate

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved bills giving teachers and schools a one-year reprieve from being punished for poor student performance on ISTEP exams.

A measure passed 95-1 by the House on Tuesday would spare teachers from having performance bonuses withheld due to student scores, which were about 20 percent lower in 2015 due to stringent new standards.

A measure passed 48-1 by the Senate just minutes later would prevent schools from being assigned a lower A-F grade for the same reasons.

Each bill now goes to the other chamber for consideration.

Democratic Rep. Terry Goodin, a school superintendent from Austin, says the measures aren't just a reprieve for teachers. He said they also let GOP leaders off the hook for policies that have not worked.