INDIANAPOLIS - Students will spend more time taking standardized tests this year as the state begins its transition from fall to spring exams.

Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus exams will be given in both the fall and spring this school year to students in grades 3-8, keeping Indiana in compliance with state and federal testing requirements.

The move from fall to spring is part of the state's testing overhaul, which includes a high-tech exam program that allows teachers to give short, computer-based quizzes to students throughout the year.

"This is the transition year that will allow us to move from one high-stakes test to a true assessment system that measures and supports student learning throughout the school year," said Suellen Reed, the state's superintendent for public instruction.

The fall test, to be given in September, will cover material taught during the 2007-2008 school year. The tests cover English and mathematics at each grade level, as well as science for those in grades 5 and 7.

Spring tests, which will include English and math topics learned during this school year, will be given in two parts. Students will be tested in March on essay and short-answer questions, which take longer to grade. Multiple choice questions will be given in late April or early May.

The new spring test also expands the subjects tested. Students in grades 4 and 6 will be tested on science, and those in grades 5 and 7 will be tested on social studies.

This year also marks the last year that high school sophomores will take the current Graduation Qualifying Exam, which covers English and math skills through grade 9. The test is required for students to earn a diploma.

Next year, students will instead have to pass smaller end-of-course tests covering material they learned in Algebra I and English 10. Students can take the tests when they complete the corresponding course, so the material is still fresh.

Fall testing results are expected to be sent to schools in late November. Spring results will be released in August.

The next ISTEP test will be given in spring 2010.

Source: chicagotribune.com