INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mike Pence has signed two bills into law sparing teachers and schools from penalties for poor student performance on the 2015 ISTEP.
BREAKING: @GovPenceIN formally signs bills holding teachers and schools "harmless" for '14-'15 ISTEP scores @rtv6
— #IndyThisWeek (@IndyThisWeek) January 21, 2016
The measures were given final approval by the full House and Senate on Thursday morning, checking off a major priority for Pence and his fellow Republicans in the Legislature. Pence signed both measures Thursday afternoon.
.@govpencein signs 2 ISTEP+ bills into law. Teachers, schools won't be penalized by scores. @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/pwvI45IjWE
— Katie Heinz (@katieheinz6) January 21, 2016
One spares teachers from having merit pay docked due to this year's low test scores, which plunged because of difficult new standards. The other prevents a drop in school A-F letter grades for the same reason.
The 2015 ISTEP has become a political liability for Republicans. It was rolled out on an accelerated timeline after GOP majorities and Pence withdrew Indiana from national Common Core standards in 2014.
Reaction from @Ritz4Ed on passage/signing of "hold harmless" bills for '14-'15 ISTEP results @rtv6 #INEdchat pic.twitter.com/c8QXKfRgFp
— #IndyThisWeek (@IndyThisWeek) January 21, 2016
