Bills that passed, failed in this year’s General Assembly
A look at some major legislation considered this year by the Indiana General Assembly.
Charter Schools
Articles
Simon academies shopping for higher profile
The Simon Youth Foundation is looking to become a leading national advocate of alternative education. With a new president, J. Michael Durnil, the foundation hopes to raise more money, find more partners in the business community, and help the public better understand its mission.
Indiana lawmakers OK bill to expand charter schools
A bill aimed at spurring more charter schools in Indiana has cleared its final legislative hurdle, marking another piece of Gov. Mitch Daniels' aggressive education agenda to pass.
Senate OKs plan aimed at expanding charter schools
The Indiana Senate has approved Gov. Mitch Daniels' proposal aimed at expanding charter schools, marking the first piece of the governor's sweeping education agenda to clear both the House and Senate.
Mayor’s charter schools director to leave
Karega Rausch will become the Indianapolis director of Stand for Children, an Oregon-based not-for-profit that pushes education reform through grass-roots organizing and legislative lobbying.
Indy Met Pumas make basketball history
The Indianapolis Metropolitan High School boys’ basketball team won the Class 1-A state championship, for the first time in the team’s four-year existence.
Flexibility eases pain of principal’s departure
The abrupt departure of Indianapolis Metropolitan High School's dynamic principal, Carlotta Cooprider, had the potential to deal a major blow to the 430-student charter school. But school administrators, parents and students say the transition was mostly seamless.
Controversy brews over judging charter performance
There is little agreement—but lots of politics and complex statistics—on how to define success and failure in Indiana’s public schools.
Advocates: Indiana can lead U.S. in schools overhaul
Education advocates told hundreds of cheering supporters at a Statehouse rally Wednesday that Indiana could lead the nation in overhauling schools.
Indiana schools chief says education changes needed
State-funded vouchers for private schools and a shift of money to charter schools are necessary steps in the effort to improve Indiana's education system, the state schools superintendent said Tuesday.
City to close Fountain Square charter school
The decision to close Fountain Square Academy, announced Friday morning at a press conference, marks the first time Mayor Greg Ballard has chosen to shut down a charter school.
Panel nixes transportation aid for charter schools
An Indiana Senate panel eliminated part of a proposal on Wednesday that would have required traditional public schools to help provide transportation to students attending charter schools.
Committee plans Wednesday vote on charter school bill
An Indiana Senate committee plans to vote Wednesday on a proposal aimed at expanding charter schools after hearing from the public on the bill last week.
Senate panel considers proposal to expand charters
The Senate Education Committee heard hours of testimony about the bill and details of a new study that found Indiana students who transferred to charter schools showed greater learning gains than their peers who stayed in traditional public schools.
Charter-school boosters tout findings of new study
Charter-school advocates are touting a Stanford University study released Wednesday as support for their case to expand charters throughout the state.
Dual roles give Bess unusual view into schools
As a Danville school board member and superintendent of Indianapolis Metropolitan High, Scott Bess is straddling the increasingly contentious chasm between traditional public schools and privately operated charters.
Education reform inspires intense war of words
Sweeping education changes called for by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels have spurred angry protests and some of the harshest rhetoric the Statehouse has heard in years.
House passes bill to expand charter schools
The House approved the proposal Tuesday on a 59-37 mostly party-line vote following hours of debate. Republicans say the bill would mean more options for families, while Democrats contend that it will erode funding for traditional schools.
Tax credit would benefit public school foundations
Ellettsville Democrat Vi Simpson wants to create an income-tax credit for gifts to public-school foundations, which could compete with one that’s already available for private-school scholarships.
Charter school’s nimble approach could become the norm
Indianapolis Metropolitan High School implemented a school-wide overhaul in its educational approach in only three months. The charter school might be the face of the future for all Indiana public schools.