Senator Bassler talks to us about education

 

The school year is wrapping up across the region and education was one of the main items during this year’s Indiana legislative session as more money was allocated for schools.

State Senator Eric Bassler of Washington is on the education committee and we had a chance to talk to him about a topic many have opinions about….state testing.  We asked hm if there is too much testing and does it need to be changed….

Bassler says he’s learned from educators about growth and summative tests. Currently the ISTEP is a summative test which evaluates student learning at the end of an instructional unit by comparing it against a standard or benchmark.  Bassler says he would like to see growth testing….which helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses and targets areas that need work. That in turn helps teachers recognize where students are struggling and address problems immediately

 

 

Bassler is hoping to be assigned to the education summer study committee when legislators receive their assignments soon.