OK,  I'm not against holding educators accountable for educational progress.  I too want proof that tax-payer dollars are not being wasted.   However, this includes the millions of dollars that the state wastes to make sure that the money is not being wasted.  ISTEP+ cost $30.2 million annually, and this does not include the vast amount of dollars spent to help kids increase their scores.  How about using free benchmarks instead of spending millions?
   In today's Star, editors wrote "Signs of progress, but we're not there yet"  discussing the many ways of accessing progress, not one of which costs the state a dime.  The Indiana Constitution says that the government must provide education, but they are not required to micro-manage education...especially at the cost of $30 million.  But as the editorial points out "State leaders began a push for students to take tougher high school courses..."  and the schools responded.  They didn't need to pass new legislation either.
   Like any good CEO, the state needs to use a guiding hand approach and leave the rest to administrators, educators and school boards.  There already is accountability.  If your school isn't measuring up, administrators should expect a visit from the superintendent of public instruction.  Nothing is more motivating to an administrator than the potential loss of your job.  Changes will be made.  This is simply good business management.  This is what I expect.   And it's available for the low cost of free.