NORTH VERNON — ISTEP testing began on Feb. 4 at Jennings County High School.
The test is the graduation qualifying exam for current juniors and seniors. Sophomores and freshmen will be on a system called Graduation Pathway Program.
ISTEP has gone by different names over the last 20 years, but there has always been a standard test required for students to graduate.
JCHS has more than 300 students testing this year because the entire junior class is taking the exam. Testing will end on Feb. 26.
ISTEP has two parts — an English and math section. If you do not pass one part, you can retest on that subject again.
Students can still earn a diploma by getting a waiver from the state, or qualify through a “pathway.”
A pathway involves meeting requirement in three areas:
–Satisfying graduation requirements.
— Learning and demonstrating employable skills.
–Achieving post secondary-readiness competencies (i.e. test scores, dual credits, career/technical education concentration).
“Testing is not necessarily popular with everyone, but it is a requirement from the state and students should trust they are prepared,” JCHS Guidance Counselor Ed Ertel said. “We simply want them to do their best.”
Jennings sophomore Ethan McGuire said ISTEP “is very challenging but a good test of knowledge. I remember taking the ISTEP test in sixth grade.”
