The Indiana State Board of Education is inviting public responses to their proposed changes to Indiana’s School Accountability Framework. Tomorrow (December 4) is the deadline for submitting input.

First, read a summary of the framework.

You can respond in multiple ways.

1) Respond to survey questions regarding the K-8 Accountability Framework. There are opportunities to add comments after each question.

2) Respond to survey questions regarding the 9-12 Accountability Framework at the link below. There are opportunities to add comments after each question.

3) If you want to send general feedback, email it to the SBOE.

What should I say?

Say whatever you like! Here are some talking points to get you started. We encourage you to customize them in your own words, expand of them, or use just the ones you particularly like.

SUGGESTED TALKING POINTS

Thank you for the opportunity to provide my input into proposed changes to Indiana’s School Accountability System.

I do not support an A-to-F system to rate Indiana schools and school districts, but if the State Board of Education is determined to have one, the grades should be used only as a data benchmark. Grade rankings should not be used to punish schools and school districts or to financially reward them. Using an A-to- F system to punish schools and school districts does not benefit students.

I support an accountability system that aligns with the federal ESSA requirements. Please streamline these requirements to minimize the amount of time our students spend on standardized tests.

No matter how you change Indiana’s School Accountability System, please consider the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years as aberrations, because schools lost so much time and instruction due the pandemic. Let’s start with a clean slate after the pandemic – hopefully 2021-2022 – even though we probably will still be dealing with pandemic-related learning gaps in the fall of 2021.

I support adding an indicator of student proficiency in social studies (including civics) and science, as long as those indicators do not significantly add to the time spent on standardized testing. We can see what has occurred in the last decade with the total emphasis focused on reading/language arts and math. It is essential to restore the emphasis on social studies and civics to create new generations of informed voters. And we definitely need future generations of professional scientists as well as consumers who understand science.

If the State requires monitoring postsecondary success, the State needs to fund the needed resources to accomplish that monitoring. It cannot be an unfunded mandate.

While it is a noble goal to introduce students to career readiness, our education systems should give all students the opportunity to explore many fields of study. The jobs they will have in the future may not exist now.

Any Indiana School Accountability System that applies to traditional public schools should also apply to charter schools, virtual charter schools, and private and religious schools receiving state funding.

You can also find additional recommendations from ISTA’s website.

Remember to watch the next State Board of Education Meeting!

The Indiana State Board of Education meets Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 9 a.m. You can watch online here: