Education battle unleashed torrents of money in Indiana
Education reformers dramatically outspent opponents on lobbying, advertising and grass-roots campaigning during the past legislative session.
ISTA
Articles
ISTA says new teacher contract forms violate state law
The Indiana State Teachers Association is asking a judge to block state education officials from putting new teacher contract forms for the 2011-2012 school year into use.
UBS paying $677K to Indiana over ISTA trust fund investments
UBS Financial Services has agreed to pay state regulators $677,000 to settle a claim over investments by the Indiana State Teachers Association Insurance Trust.
Bill on teacher union rights heads to governor
A bill to restrict Indiana teachers' collective bargaining rights has cleared its final legislative hurdle, becoming the first part of Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels' sweeping education agenda to make it to the governor's desk.
Senate OKs parts of Daniels’ education agenda
The Republican-led Indiana Senate approved several key pieces of GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels' aggressive education agenda Tuesday, including a bill to limit teachers' collective bargaining rights and a bill linking teacher pay to student performance.
Lawmakers start work on teacher merit pay bill
Indiana lawmakers have started work on one of the more controversial aspects of Gov. Mitch Daniels' sweeping education agenda: a plan to tie teacher pay to student performance.
Senate panel OKs bill limiting teacher bargaining
A Republican-controlled Senate committee has advanced a bill that critics contend would strip Indiana teachers of their collective bargaining rights.
Schools chief, union head recruit mentors for children
State school superintendent Tony Bennett, a Republican, and the leader of Indiana's largest teachers union made a rare joint appearance Tuesday to promote a mentoring program.
It may be do or die for Indianapolis charter school
Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) College Preparatory School faces its seventh—and final—review this year, one that could determine its survival.
How hard is it to fire a teacher, really?
Red tape involved in firing teachers is thick. But risk-averse administrators may be the bigger problem.
Secretary of state files complaint against teachers’ fund broker
David Karandos, a broker who advised the Indiana State Teachers Association Insurance Trust before it collapsed in 2009, is facing an administrative complaint from the Indiana Securities Division, which alleges 13 violations for unethical, dishonest and deceptive practices.
Rokita to politicians: Careful with donations from union
Secretary of state warns candidates that if he prevails in court, his securities division staff will pursue any money the candidates received from the Indiana State Teachers Association’s political action committee.
Education Roundtable hires former union lobbyist as director
Dan Clark will direct efforts to coordinate and align Indiana’s K-12 and postsecondary educational systems, as well
as work force agencies like the Department of Workforce Development.
Indiana bringing information revolution to public schools
The state is building a massive data system with a tough-love intent of rewarding good educators and schools and hammering
poor performers.
Teachers union official: Indiana hostile to teachers
The head of a national teachers union said Indiana’s Department of Education is among the three most hostile to teachers in
the country.
Other states join Indiana in spurning grant program
About two dozen states are going back to Washington for another shot at billions in education grants under the “Race to the
Top” program, but at least nine others including Indiana are opting out of trying a second time.
Indiana schools to exit Race to the Top competition
State will bow out of the $4.35 billion federal competition after a highly public feud between public schools chief Tony Bennett
and the state’s teachers unions.
Report: Indiana far short of funding teacher pensions
Indiana is among the nation’s five most underfunded teacher pension programs, but low ranking is misleading.
UPDATE: Teachers union tells Bennett to start over on reform
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett invites heads of teachers unions to meeting to publicly share reform ideas instead of “bureaucratic rhetoric and no
specifics.”
Bennett demands ISTA support for school reforms
State superintendent of public instruction says teacher union support imperative to win federal grant.