Indiana schools are getting letter grades again
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Indiana has a new grading system — not for students, but for schools.
Why it matters: Accountability rules adopted unanimously by the State Board of Education on Wednesday mark the return of A-F letter grades for schools after nearly a decade.
State of play: The new system seeks to measure more than just academic mastery.
- It awards schools for things like good attendance, middle school students who explore careers early and opportunities for skill development and workforce credentials that students can use after graduation.
Yes, but: The adopted version places more weight on proficiency than academic growth — a shift from an earlier draft that weighted them equally.
- This recognizes students who are making progress "while ensuring a school will never generate more points for a student who has not achieved proficiency compared to a student who has achieved proficiency," according to the Department of Education.
Between the lines: Critics argue that accountability systems that heavily weight standardized test scores can reflect a school's socioeconomic status as much as classroom performance.
- Adding measures like reading proficiency and attendance aims to give a fuller picture.
Catch up quick: The state began working on the new rules last year, with a directive from the Legislature to award grades by the end of 2026.
- Although the adoption was originally scheduled for December, it was delayed until Wednesday due to concerns over the previous draft.
The latest: With the new accountability system in place, Education Secretary Katie Jenner said, Indiana will resume its pursuit of flexibility in how it spends some federal funds.
- The state applied for a waiver from the federal government last year but put that on pause, she said, while working through A-F grades.
- The U.S. Department of Education has 120 days to respond once a waiver has been requested. The pause was strategic, Jenner said, so the state could get its new rules in "at the best place" before unpausing.
What's next: Initial grades will be distributed later this year on a sliding scale that gives As to any school with 85 to 100 points.
- Afterward, it will eventually ratchet up to a traditional grading scale, where As start at 90 points.