MIDDLEBURY — As a mom and now a political candidate for the Indiana State Senate seat in district 12, many of you know my concerns regarding the state of education in Indiana. Today I want to express my frustration with the entire process of testing our students. As a taxpayer I am fully aware that I, along with fellow Hoosier taxpayers, paid for the almost one hundred million dollar four-year contract with CTB/McGraw-Hill. 

Folks, thats $100,000,000. This is the last year of that contract and the 23.9 million dollars we are handing over for this years debacle is an injustice. Here are some of the details of this years test. The test was administered in the spring of 2015. Computer glitches on the testing companies end meant that some students computers went blank in the middle of the test. Some students used paper and pencil for this test, others used computers and the results are glaringly different.

A scoring issue that significantly changed the final results was discovered in April/May but was just disclosed this past weekend.  Schools were told results were “on time” which means nine months after the tests are administered and children are more than halfway through their next grade. Teachers evaluation and school grades are tied to the result of this test; how can you do this in a fair manner when there were so many glitches before the first student even sits down to take this test?

I want our students to come to school ready to learn and learn for the joy of learning.  I want our kids to become critical thinkers and innovative learners. I want kids to become life long learners and contributing members of society, not great test takers. All the Istep has managed to do is to bring anxiety and stress into the classroom.  

Oh, and about that test that takes nine months to get results?  The next time you visit your doctor and he takes a biopsy (a test) and says “We will have the results in nine months” I would guess you would be shocked. Most likely your response would be “Nine months? Seriously? You’ve got to be kidding!” I would hope you would find a new doctor or ask for your money back. That’s not a bad idea in this situation. I demand a refund. I want my money back. We the taxpayers demand better. 

We’ve got some work to do in Indiana.  I don’t have a monopoly on all the best ideas, but I am willing to listen and to learn. That has served me well as a school board member for the past nine years. Common sense goes a long way in solving problems even in a complex situations like the ones we have in education. It iss time to throw out the Istep test. In January I will begin meeting constituents in their local hometown coffee shops. I am ready to get to work. It iss time to send this mom to the statehouse.

Sincerely,
Joanna King, Candidate for Indiana Senate District 12