Indiana agency seeks $4 million over ISTEP scoring delays

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The Indiana Department of Education wants $4 million in damages from the state's former testing vendor over long delays in grading last year's ISTEP standardized exam.

State schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz told the state Board of Education on Wednesday about the request to CTB/McGraw Hill. Student scores from the spring 2015 exam weren't ready until early January, about five months later than the previous year.

The department sent a June letter requesting the damages, saying the delays caused a ripple effect in Indiana's school and teacher rating systems and estimated damages topped $11 million.

The Indianapolis Star reports (http://indy.st/2aGXYi3 ) the state's contract capped damages at $2.4 million, but an education department spokesman says it believes the higher request is appropriate.

McGraw Hill spokeswoman Catherine Mathis declined to comment.

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com