House panel supports plans to loosen voucher restrictions
Indiana, already a state with one of the most robust taxpayer-funded voucher programs in the country, has made small steps toward broadening the program.
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Indiana House approves ISTEP-replacement measure
The Indiana House has approved a bill that would require students in grades 3 through 8 to complete the new assessment by the 2018-19 school year.
Indiana Senate votes down bill to appoint schools chief
The Indiana Senate unexpectedly shot down a bill on Monday that would have made the role of state superintendent of public instruction an appointed rather than elected position.
Many public universities now using private planes
At Ohio State University, football coach Urban Meyer and members of his family took 11 personal trips last school year at a cost to the university of $120,000. Purdue University flew an alumnus from Rhode Island for $15,000.
Purdue considering new names for Fort Wayne campus
The boards of both universities approved plans in December for splitting up programs starting in July 2018 at what is now Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Purdue University tackles cheating, academic dishonesty
Students say cheating and academic dishonesty have become commonplace at the school.
Purdue Polytechnic project hits snag on city’s east side
The planned high school for STEM studies announced with fanfare last year that it would move into the P.R. Mallory factory site, but leaders encountered a financial hurdle and now are keeping their options open.
Shrinking school districts to see less money under House budget plan
Suburban schools, English-learners and virtual schools would fare well under the Indiana House’s 2017 budget plan, while Indianapolis Public Schools and other urban districts would see drops in state support.
Cathedral High School acquires Little League headquarters
The 35-acre site, on the city’s far-northeast side, contains several diamonds and will enable the private Catholic school to have its own baseball facilities.
UPDATE: House GOP budget raises cigarette tax while funding some of Holcomb’s wish list
Raising the cigarette tax by $1 per pack would help pay for Medicaid spending and tobacco-cessation programs—and would help patch the $300 million annual hole in the budget created by the House’s road-funding plan.
Lawmakers weigh letting governor select state schools chief
Indiana is one of 13 states where voters elect the schools chief. The other 37 allow either the governor or the board of education to select someone to fill the position.
S&P threatens to downgrade Indiana school debt
Citing concern about a state statute governing debt repayment, Standard & Poor’s said that it has placed a 90-day watch on the rating for loans to all Indiana school districts.
House approves bill to deregulate hair-braiding practices
Stylists who specialize in braiding hair would no longer have to obtain a cosmetology license under a measure approved by the Indiana House.
Ball State decides against giving up TV station frequency
The decision comes after the university had considered giving up the WIPB-TV frequency in a Federal Communications Commission auction aimed at freeing up bandwidth for mobile devices.
House pre-K proposal draws backlash for voucher language
Tying an expansion of Indiana’s pre-school program to its more politically touchy voucher system has drawn criticism from House Democrats, pre-K advocates and even some Republicans.
St. Joseph’s College alumni try to save their alma mater
Alumni say they knew little about the college’s dire financial standing before the board of trustees decided Feb. 3 to close for at least the 2017-18 school year.
From ISTEP to ILearn: GOP test plan clears first legislative hurdle
A proposal to replace ISTEP won approval from Indiana’s House Education Committee on Thursday, putting what is likely another nail in the deeply unpopular exam’s coffin.
Saint Joseph’s College says financial woes led to suspension of operations
The Catholic institution in Rensselaer had been operating on an annual deficit of $4 million to $5 million year after year and has exhausted all its credit.
House passes pre-K bill that expands access to vouchers
Supporters of expanding state-funded preschool said they are frustrated the bill includes what they view as an expansion of the private school voucher program.
DeVos confirmed as education secretary as Pence breaks tie
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed school choice advocate Betsy DeVos as education secretary by the narrowest of margins, with Vice President Mike Pence breaking a 50-50 tie in a historic vote.