Schools Concerned About Loss of ISAT Testing in 9th Grade

By Andrea Gates, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho

Dec. 12–Local school district authorities are concerned about a decision Monday by Idaho State Board of Education Director Mike Rush to drop state testing for ninth-grade students.

Idaho Standards Achievement Tests assess students and hold schools accountable under federal No Child Left Behind mandates. High school students in Idaho can’t graduate unless they pass the 10th-grade ISAT.

The move to nix ninth-grade testing stemmed from a staff oversight, State Board Spokesman Mark Browning confirmed. Staffers hadn’t realized that costs charged by the state’s vendor for testing second- and ninth-grade students were additional — beyond costs for federal testing requirements including grades three through eight and 10, Browning said.

“It’s unfortunate but we must balance our budget,” said State Board President Milton Terrell in a press release Monday. “Accountability is key, and that includes fiscal accountability.”

So now the State Board’s budget — which will now be $826,320 lighter — is balanced, Browning said.

But it’s the second State Board staff oversight in recent months.

A federal grant matching program that helps provide college scholarships for lower income kids, called Gear Up, has recently been swelled by funding uncertainty. Staff used unallowable in-kind matches in the funding scheme.

The State Board in September said it would continue ISATs for ninth-graders, and they got rid of the second-grade tests. The interim executive director at the time also voluntarily submitted her resignation.

But that doesn’t alleviate concern from many school district authorities.

“In my mind this is a very important test,” said Kimberly School District Superintendent John Garner. “We’re not doing kids any favors but we’ll get by.”

At Twin Falls High School, which serves students in 10th through 12th grade, teachers will have less of an indication about academic proficiency for students entering high school.

“It’s taking away one of our measuring sticks,” said the school’s principal, Ben Allen.

Filer School District Superintendent John Graham is also unsure about potential impacts of this change. He said he was a proponent, though, of eliminating second-grade ISAT testing.

“I have concerns. I know it’s a money issue,” he said. “But ninth grade, for many students, that’s the transfer into high school. I hope they can find funding to bring that back.”

Teacher union officials are not as concerned about the issue.

“My first thought is I feel like we’ve been over-testing to begin with,” said Bert Marley, a regional director of the Idaho Education Association.

Cassia School District Superintendent Gaylen Smyer said he has mixed emotions.

“Sitting out a year, it may impact their scores,” said Smyer, noting that more instructional time could be freed up by the move. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Idaho State Department of Education authorities called the situation unfortunate, but they’re adapting and they understand.

“We understand the importance of ninth-grade testing, but like any state agency, the State Board of Education must be fiscally responsible with taxpayer dollars and spend within its budget,” said Melissa McGrath, a spokeswoman with the Idaho State Department of Education, in a written statement.

But one point of the department’s proposed $60 million teacher pay plan, called ISTARS, will need to be tweaked as a result of the testing changes. McGrath said school-wide bonuses in the plan for ISAT improvement will need to be recalculated.

The State Board at its next meeting will need to implement a rule change in order to officially nix ninth-grade ISAT testing, Browning said.

“We are hopeful we will start testing ninth grade again in future years,” McGrath said.

But at least for now, it’s not looking good. Funding for ninth-grade ISAT testing is not currently in the 2009 fiscal year budget, Browning confirmed.

Andrea Gates can be reached at 735-3380, or Andrea.Gates@lee.net

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