700 scores tossed after students allowed to use calculators

The state Department of Education has tossed out scores for about 700 elementary, middle school and high school students in northern Indiana's Rochester School Corp., where it says testing company Pearson incorrectly told schools to allow calculator use for an ISTEP section for which they weren't permitted.

In these instances, we followed up quickly to help local school officials take corrective action, a company statement said.

Deuberry said the department doesn't have the authority to adjust those scores, although schools can appeal the final ratings to the State Board of Education.

Pearson replaced vendor CTB/McGraw Hill, which faced numerous troubles including computer glitches that kicked about 80,000 students offline during the 2013 exams and grading problems that delayed release of the spring 2015 exam results until January 2016.