| This study investigated the effect state-mandated standardized testing has had on mathematics education in a rural school corporation. In looking at this overall question and using the related research, four focus questions emerged: (1) To what extent has the high-stakes testing movement instigated school corporation systemic reform? (2) How has the ISTEP+ high-stakes movement affected the individual schools in the school corporation? (3) How does the school corporation use ISTEP+ results to enhance the mathematics education for all students? (4) To what extent does the school corporation prepare/remediate students appropriately and effectively for the ISTEP+ exam without compromising the quality of mathematics education?; For this qualitative collective case study, I interviewed fifty people: 8 parents, 14 teachers, 19 high school students, and 9 administrators. Students were carefully selected—a portion of the students were successful on the ISTEP+ Graduation Qualifying Exam while the others were unsuccessful and considered retesters.; Eleven general themes emerged from the results of the interviews from the four research focus questions. Question 1 data show that the school corporation has begun systemic reform. Question 2 data show that the school and district are in synch with compatible goals. The schools, however, do not have a common ISTEP+ preparation plan. The data show the beginnings of a learning community with the teachers and administrators. Question 3 data show the school corporation uses the ISTEP+ results in several productive ways: analyze the results and use reading strategies to improve problem-solving skills, create benchmarks and assessments in mathematics, and design and attend quality professional development to improve student learning. Question 4 data illustrate that the school corporation is trying to prepare/remediate students for ISTEP+ without compromising the quality of mathematics education. Parents support the school's reaction to the ISTEP+ mandates and do not find mathematics education has been compromised. |
