ISTA Statement on Release of School Accountability Grades
11/14/2018
ISTA President Teresa Meredith issued the following statement about the release of school accountability A – F grades. This year schools received two grades – one from the state and one from the federal government. The second grade is based on new federal standards from the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which look at how public schools serve minority, low-income and ELL students and students with disabilities.
“Educators know state-issued school grades are heavily weighted on testing, which doesn’t reflect student growth teachers see in the classroom every day. We see student improvement throughout the school year and make our own assessments regularly to meet the needs of individual students.
The ESSA grades reveal what other data and research has been telling us – that we need to address disparities and equalize opportunities for all students regardless of ZIP code.
I hope legislators will review this data and take action by revising the school funding formula to address inequities and guarantee a quality public school for all Hoosier kids.”