INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – State education officials are set to discuss possible actions for shortening Indiana's standardized test amid concerns from parents and educators about potential total testing times doubling to about 12 hours. 

State schools Superintendent Glenda Ritz has called a special meeting of the State Board of Education for Friday morning. 

That meeting follows a week of bickering among Ritz's Department of Education, the governor's office and legislative leaders about why this year's ISTEP exam is so much longer and what steps might be taken to shorten it.

Gov. Mike Pence has hired two outside consultants to make recommendations on possible exam changes and says he's confident there's time to make changes.

About 450,000 students in grades 3 to 8 are to begin taking the test as soon as Feb. 25.