Failing Ind. Schools Would Face State Takeover More Quickly Under House Bill

Republican-backed House Bill 1337, which passed the House Education Committee by a party line 7-4 vote Tuesday, would cut in half the time it takes to face possible state takeover for a school that consistently scores an F on its state report card.

The bill would instruct the State Board of Education and the Education Roundtable to establish new A to F guidelines, with growth benchmarks that reward students for improving test scores toward the passing score or toward an advanced score for those already passing.

A competing Senate bill, which would also dump the current A to F rules but would allow Superintendent for Public Instruction Glenda Ritz to lead a process for outlining a new system, will be discussed in the Senate Education Committee Wednesday.