As Indiana’s college-going rate dips, can underused aid program do more?
Four in 10 Indiana students are eligible for 21st Century Scholars, a needs-based scholarship and mentoring program, but only half of them apply.
Education & Workforce Development
Articles
Indiana juniors’ SAT scores much better in reading than in math
Half of Indiana’s high school juniors tested as college-ready in reading and writing on the SAT in 2022, but only around one-third met readiness benchmarks in math, according to Indiana Department of Education data released Wednesday.
Tests show Indiana 3rd graders below pre-pandemic reading levels
Nearly one in five students “have not mastered foundational reading skills by the end of third grade,” according to data from IREAD, an Indiana Department of Education reading assessment given to third graders.
Indiana schools aren’t hiring new adjunct teachers
Adjunct teacher permits represent the newest pathway to working in Indiana classrooms, following their approval by the state legislature earlier this year. Yet so far, school leaders don’t seem keen on using them.
COVID-disrupted grads face college: ‘I didn’t really learn anything’
After the disruption of online learning, first-year college students are arriving arrive on U.S. campuses unprepared for the demands of college-level work, experts say.
Ex-IUPUI chancellor Paydar confirmed for education department job
Nasser Paydar, who was nominated to the post by President Joe Biden, will work under U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
Indy firm launches virtual-reality-focused effort to fill talent pipeline
VisionThree’s $80 million effort aims to place virtual-reality career labs in every high school, community college and university in Indiana by 2025.
Butler to use $4M gift to build new presidential residence
The Jay and Christie Kile Love University House will serve as both a home for future Butler presidents and a venue for hosting fundraising and other community events.
As abortion ban nears, some want Indiana to expand abstinence-only sex ed
As Indiana moves forward with an abortion ban, a small group of Democratic lawmakers and advocates has been hoping to expand the state’s sex education curriculum in an effort to reduce unplanned and unwanted pregnancies.
New academic year brings growth for Indianapolis charter school
The story of Purdue Polytechnic High School’s growth coincides with the story of IPS’ shrinking enrollment.
IBJ Podcast: Former school board member gets streetwise as bus driver
In the latest edition of the IBJ Podcast, Tony Dzwonar reveals what he learned waking up at 5 a.m. every school day and getting behind the wheel of a 40-foot bus to take Washington Township students to school.
Pandemic brings yearning for immersive internships
Two years after COVID-19 shutdowns, companies, students and professionals are still deciphering how to move forward with workplace changes, including the internship experience.
Appeals court upholds decision in Roncalli discrimination lawsuit
The Chicago-based Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a former guidance counselor’s discrimination claims against Roncalli High School and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
IPS reports jump in share of freshmen on track to graduate
Some of the biggest gains happened at Crispus Attucks and George Washington high schools, which each reported an increase of 20 percentage points for on-track rates compared to last year.
Q&A with Tony Dzwonar, from the school board to the bus lot
Tony Dzwonar had just wrapped up three consecutive terms on the Washington Township school board—serving from 2008 to late 2020—and was looking for a way to spend his extra free time. Then he remembered that the district—like most school corporations—needed bus drivers.
Indiana students improve on tests, trail pre-pandemic marks
Indiana students had small improvements in their English and math scores, with standardized test results released Wednesday indicating a tentative bright spot following years of pandemic-disrupted learning.
Labor Department awards $5M to Ivy Tech for apprenticeship expansion
The new funding specifically targets the growing electric vehicle industry, including EV manufacturing and infrastructure.
Indiana’s teacher shortage has some schools scrambling
To help cope with the shortage of candidates, school districts are relying more heavily on emergency permits, which are temporary credentials that allow people who aren’t licensed to teach a certain subject.
Behavioral issues, absenteeism at schools increase, federal data shows
The findings by the National Center for Education Statistics, or NCES, based on responses from of leaders at 846 public schools, underline problems that have become increasingly well known during more than two years of pandemic-altered education.
Marian University lands $5M grant from Fairbanks Foundation for engineering
Marian University said the grant would help educate “a pipeline of diverse engineering talent” to meet the workforce needs of central Indiana.