INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana State Teacher's Association said Wednesday that current Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus, or ISTEP testing, is a "meltdown."

The Department of Education countered that no one knows how current testing is going until results come in, 6News' Rick Hightower reported.

Crispus Attucks is one of hundreds of Indiana schools where testing is ongoing this week. Testing was recently moved from fall to spring, and the test was changed slightly.

Kristina Ragan said her daughter is among many who have had problems with the test.

"She has a little trouble in math, and they're trying to help her along with all that," Ragan said. "She's been having a lot of sleeping issues right now, and I think it's the jitters."

ISTA said it has fielded hundreds of phone calls and e-mails regarding issues with ISTEP.

"Good students were struggling with some of the questions. I think meltdown was a very appropriate term for Monday's portion," said Teresa Meredith, vice president of ISTA.

The Department of Education disagrees with teachers' characterization of testing and said parents, students and teachers should give it time.

"We understand that the teacher's union has been encouraging the use of that term (meltdown)," said Cam Savage, of the Department of Education. "They've always opposed the spring test. We're encouraging those teachers to continue to encourage their students to do the very best they can."

Because of changes in the test and the fact that it is being administered in spring, Meredith said students weren't as prepared.

"Teachers weren't aware that … students wouldn't be able to finish the test or that … questions would be perhaps harder and more challenging for their grade level," Meredith said.

A parent who e-mailed 6News Wednesday night but didn't wish to be identified said the timing of the test isn't the issue, but that portions of the test are "horrendously hard."

ISTA said it will wait for data to return before attempting to address any possible problems with the state.