Sen. Buck: Holding Indiana Schools Accountable
| Here in Indiana, we believe access to a quality education is a key to success. Our state budget reflects this priority, with over $10 billion per year – almost half of our budget – dedicated to K-12 education. That’s why I supported a bill to hold Indiana schools accountable and recognize excellent performance with an updated A-F grading scale. Though schools were previously given A-F grades from 2011 to 2018, grades have not been given out for seven years for a variety of reasons. House Enrolled Act 1498 directs the Indiana State Board of Education to update the factors and methodology used for school accountability grades so parents have a better idea of how schools are performing and which school may be the best fit for their child to attend. Factors that must be used in determining a school’s grade include ILEARN pass rates, IREAD-3 pass rates and students graduating with advanced coursework and vocational experiences. The state is currently reviewing options for the future grading scale, and a first draft was recently released. Indiana’s robust school choice environment puts parents in the driver’s seat of decisions for their child’s education. Improving transparency and accountability for our schools will help ensure Hoosier parents have the information they need to ensure their kids receive the education that works best for their individual needs. |