This is the third year of the DIAS
project (Documentation of Indiana's Academic Standards). A two
year pilot project was completed June 30, 2001. During the pilot,
a core group of twenty-two stakeholders from thirteen Indiana
Special Education Planning Districts met quarterly with the Purdue
team to discuss issues associated with the current Indiana state-wide
assessment for K-12 students. The stakeholders group was comprised
of directors of special education, curriculum specialists, general
education and special education teachers.
The themes of the state and
federal regulations that influenced direction were:
1.) All schools must be accountable for student learning.
2.) Teachers must teach from state approved standards.
3.) All students must be included in state-wide assessments.
4.) Students must show competence with 9th grade standards
in English/language arts and math in order to receive an Indiana
high school diploma.
During the pilot a total of ninety-one
high school teachers, representing each of the thirteen planning
districts, were trained on an initial computer program that allowed
the rating of student progress on the Indiana English/language
arts and math standards.
The focus of this year is the development of DIAS 2000, Indiana's
Standards-Based Assessment System. Through a contract with Purdue
University, Roeing Corporation of Lafayette is developing the
web-based application. DIAS 2000 will be freely available to all
Indiana teachers, with initial distribution expected during May,
2002.
Current efforts of the DIAS team
also include dissemination of information regarding DIAS 2000
to decision makers in the private and public school community.
All Indiana school superintendents recently received a letter
describing the project and many have expressed interest. Presentations
have been given at state-wide conferences and individual school
districts, with favorable response.
Mary Jo Sparrow, Ph.D.
DIAS Project Director
