Indiana

Urban Schools Association

Our students, your future, Indiana urban schools

IUPUI ES -3115
Indianapolis, IN 46226
317 460-1189
https://inurbanschools.org/

October 27, 2016 Indiana Urban Schools Association Media Release and letter to Members of the Indiana Assessment
Committee and Members of the Indiana Accountability Committee

Indianas students, educators, parents and community members

are concerned. New Assessments require the State to first
address improvements necessary for a Student-Centered
Accountability System
IUSA submitted a letter to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction last August expressing strong
concern about the roles, timelines, possible overlap, and impact of the work of the Indiana
Accountability Committee and Assessment Committee. We appreciate the State Superintendent and
members of her staff hearing these concerns and discussing them at our October 19th meeting.
However, IUSA a consortium of 38 urban school districts representing 350,000 Hoosier students feels an urgent need to share our concerns directly with members of these state committees.
IUSAs primary concern is the fast-approaching deadline for the Assessment Committee to make its
recommendation for a test. That test will assess student learning. It also will be a critical part of a yetto-be-determined accountability system to reflect how schools and districts meet accountability. IUSA
members share the belief that student assessments should be designed to ensure that schools and
classroom educators have timely and useful data to inform the teaching and learning decisions made
at the local level, and these assessments require a student-centered accountability system. We care
deeply that the assessment selected will make that a reality for Indianas educational environment.
However, given the looming deadlines, the more pressing concern is that the State may be reaching a
decision identifying an assessment before reaching decisions about how schools and districts will be
held accountable. The current scenario of selecting a test before completing the accountability system
that incorporates the new requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act clearly is an example of
making a decision out of sequence. Changes in our accountability system and the expectations
for schools in Indiana that result from the impact of this historic federal legislation must be
considered in the test chosen to assess whether or not these expectations are achieved. The
present sequence sets up a pattern where the test chosen determines the architecture of the
accountability system. This seems to be putting the cart before the horse. This emphatic point was
clearly stated to the State Superintendents staff at the October IUSA meeting where IUSA also
stressed its desire to see adjustments to the accountability system to make it fair, equitable,
supportive, and a valid assessment of the corporation and schools effectiveness. Accountability
decisions and the foreknowledge of those measures are paramount to the credibility of any
test selected. And, just as a flawed accountability system will detract from the credibility of a
test selection, implementation with fidelity must be a guarantee. Even a perfect test that is not
implemented with fidelity will yield less than desired results.



Indiana Urban Schools Association

Our students, your future, Indiana urban schools

IUPUI ES -3115
Indianapolis, IN 46226
317 460-1189
https://inurbanschools.org/

We urge members of the Indiana Assessment Committee to understand that replacement of the
ISTEP+ must be aligned with Indiana Academic Standards, must be able to accurately measure
students, schools and school corporations using a known set of accountability measures. We urge
members of the Indiana Accountability Committee to ensure that the needs of all are considered,
weighed, and included to provide equitable weightings that reflect the progress of the student
population.
This is a not a political matter this is a matter of urgent need for ensuring that Indianas education
system is designed for the improvement of students, to help educators and all constituents
understand what is necessary to prepare all students for post-secondary opportunities in college and
careers.

Sincerely,
IUSA Member District Superintendents - Terry Thompson, Anderson, Dr. Jim Roberts, Bartholomew,
Dr. Paul Kaiser, Beech Grove, John Trout, Concord, Dr. Matthew Prusiecki, Decatur, Dr. Youssef
Yomtoob, East Chicago, Dr. Robert Haworth, Elkhart, Dr. David B. Smith, Evansville-Vanderburgh,
Dr. Russell Hodges, Fayette, Dr. Wendy Robinson, Fort Wayne, Dr. Flora Reichanadter, Franklin
Township, Dr. Cheryl Pruitt, Gary, Dr. Diane Woodworth, Goshen, Dr. Pete Morikis, Griffith, Dr. Walter
(Jerry) Watkins, Hammond, Dr. Lewis Ferebee, Indianapolis, Dr. Jeff Hauswald, Kokomo, Les Huddle,
Lafayette, Dr. Sharon Johnson Shirley, Lake Ridge, Dr. Thomas Cripliver, Lake Station, Dr. Shawn
Smith, Lawrence Township, Michele Starkey, Logansport, Brad Lindsay, Marion, Dr. Jeffrey
Studebaker, Merrillville, Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, Michigan City, Dr. A. Dean Speicher,
Mishawaka, Dr. Judith Demuth, Monroe County, Dr. Steven Baule, Muncie, Dr. Thomas Little, Perry
Township, Dr. Nate Jones, Pike, Todd Terrill, Richmond, Dr. Kenneth Spells, South Bend, Ken Hull,
Speedway, Daniel Tanoos, Vigo, Dr. Dena Cushenberry, Warren Township, Dr. Nikki Woodson,
Washington Township, Dr. Jeff Butts, Wayne Township, Cindy Scroggins, Whiting