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57 Idaho Schools To Try Out New Reading Test

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The Idaho Department of Education's new reading test will be tried out by 57 schools.

The schools are in 37 districts scattered across the state, The Times-News reported.

The Idaho Reading Indicator test is given to kindergarten through third-graders.

"I truly appreciate those schools and teachers who are willing to participate in this pilot and go above and beyond to make this a smooth statewide implementation," Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said.

School employees will undergo training on the new test in August. About 13,500 students will take both the new and old test at participating pilot schools.

The new test is scheduled to be rolled out during the 2018-19 school year.

A team of educators recommended a replacement test in 2016, and the state legislature appropriated $100,000 for the pilot project. A full, statewide implementation will cost about $500,000.

"The new IRI will expand beyond whether students can read quickly and accurately to include whether students understand what they read as well as vocabulary, spelling and decoding and other basic reading skills," Ybarra said.

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