IPS moves forward with $5 million in busing cuts
With little opposition, the Indianapolis Public Schools board on a 6-1 vote approved cutting school bus service for about 600 high schoolers.
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Indianapolis Public Schools struggles to recruit racially diverse staff, review shows
IPS is not alone in the struggle to hire and retain staff of color. School districts in Indianapolis, throughout the state, and nationwide also have labored over trying to recruit teachers and other staff of color.
To cut costs, IPS proposes to end busing for about 2,600 students
While significant, the cut to transportation is less than half what the district was sketching out in January, as it sought to lower operating costs amid steadily shrinking enrollment and a severe budget crunch.
Indianapolis Public Schools to redo student career paths
To better prepare graduates for college and well-paying jobs, IPS plans to revamp its high school career and college curriculum and drop programs that don’t lead directly to jobs.
IPS returning to in-person learning for all grades on April 5
Schools still must be able to maintain 3 feet of social distancing, require masks, and ensure a strong contact tracing protocol, Superintendent Aleesia Johnson said.
IPS weighs eliminating school bus service for thousands of students
If the Indianapolis Public Schools board approves the most drastic cuts, about 5,600 high school students and 4,000 elementary school students could lose district-provided transportation.
Slightly more Indianapolis families opt for in-person learning for 2nd semester
More families are rethinking at-home learning because it isn’t going well for their children or they’re worried about negative long-term learning effects.
IPS seats two new board members, strengthening charter support
Indianapolis Public Schools swore in two new board members and two incumbents Monday night. All four have the backing of pro-school choice political action committees.
IPS officials consider one-year extension for innovation schools
Without data to paint a picture of academic success or failure, Indianapolis Public Schools will likely delay for a year renewing the contracts of four privately run schools under its supervision.
Charter allies sweep IPS school board election to win four seats
The board faces a host of challenges, including how to cut the district’s spending, how to fulfill its commitment to racial equity, and how to stem the learning loss wrought by school closures during the pandemic.
Control of IPS school board up in air with two close races
The vigorous campaign pitted well-financed supporters of the current IPS administration against opponents who are critical of the district’s collaboration with charter schools.
Q&A: IPS superintendent talks masks, social distancing and educating kids
IBJ reporter Samm Quinn talked with Superintendent Aleesia Johnson about how returning has gone so far and other impacts COVID-19 has had on the state’s largest public school system.
IPS superintendent calls out public policy decisions neglecting Blacks, Latinos
Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Aleesia Johnson on Wednesday pushed new initiatives to promote equity and called out Indiana decision-makers for asking district officials to accept scarcity and to “do more with less.”
Charter backers battle to preserve edge on IPS school board
With four seats on the seven-member board up for election, the outcome could easily shift the balance of power in the district.
IPS board candidate resigned from previous post after financial questions
A candidate for the Indianapolis Public Schools board resigned from his position as president of the Indiana Young Democrats this spring amid a controversy over his unauthorized withdrawal of $3,800 from the group’s account.
Political groups give more than $200K to charter-friendly IPS board candidates
Deep-pocketed political action committees have thrown their support into four races for Indianapolis Public Schools board seats, helping candidates who back partnerships with charter schools to far outraise their competitors.
City, Mind Trust to spend $88,000 to extend virtual learning pods
The additional funding—$24,000 from the city and $64,000 from the Mind Trust—will keep three of the 14 community learning sites open through the fall semester.
Things to watch as Indianapolis Public Schools begins return to classrooms
Indianapolis Public Schools’ younger students headed back to classrooms Monday to resume in-person learning for the first time since March.
IPS board candidates debate innovation schools, racial equity, budget cuts
Four seats on the seven-member board are up for election Nov. 3. Advocacy groups have drawn the usual battle lines between candidates who back innovation schools and those who are skeptical of the strategy.
IPS plans staggered in-person return in October after cautious online start
The plan is based on improved coronavirus data in Marion County. The city’s average positivity rate—the percentage of people who test positive for the coronavirus—has hovered near 5% for several weeks, according to state data.