Madison students won’t take ISAT

Madison School District students will not take the ISAT by Smarter Balance next month. This means the state could potentially lose $10 million in Title 1 funding, which would affect schools all over the Gem State.

It is a federal requirement that 95 percent of students in Idaho take the test.

The Madison Board of Trustees voted unanimously to opt-out of taking the test. Instead students will take the Measures of Academic Progress test.

Superintendent Geoff Thomas said taking the MAP test is what’s best for students because it significantly decreases testing time and creates immediate results.

“What we’re trying to do is that helps guide instruction that’s aligned to our standards and costs a lot less, and frankly our district should be the model for the state about going out and doing things that are common sense and also help protect the taxpayer,” said Thomas.

Madison’s move will cut ISAT participation by 2 percent, or more than 5,000 students, which the state Department of Education says poses a problem.