Indiana House approves statewide school-safety audit
The measure passed Monday on a 96-0 vote. It comes in the wake of a Parkland, Florida, school shooting that left 17 dead.
K-12
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IPS delays tax-hike referendums to November after criticism
Indianapolis Public Schools is backing off on its plan to ask voters in May to support a major tax hike to pay for the city’s schools, instead deciding to work with the Indy Chamber to revise its proposal and delay the referendums until November.
IPS considers scheduling revamp, but families see practical problems
Students in Indianapolis’ largest district will likely start and end school at different times next year. But when it comes to choosing a new schedule, the district is facing tension.
Nation’s largest voucher program sees slowing growth
Now in its seventh year, Indiana’s voucher program expanded by slightly more than 1,000 students in the 2017-18 school year
Political Action Committee formed to back IPS tax-hike referendums
Local business and community leaders have formed a political action committee, named “Vote Yes for IPS,” to support the upcoming May 8 primary referendums.
House panel strips major parts of Senate workforce development bill
The House Ways and Means committee on Tuesday made big changes before unanimously passing Senate Bill 50.
House panel advances bill requiring high schools to offer computer science classes
The concept of requiring schools to offer computer science courses is part of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s 2018 legislative agenda.
Realtor group’s opposition a possible blow to school district’s tax-hike bid
A politically influential group representing real estate agents is taking the rare step of opposing Indianapolis Public Schools’ $725 million proposal to raise property taxes to increase school funding.
Charter yanked from struggling Indiana College Preparatory School
Roiled by unsustainable debts, a disintegrating school board and violations of state requirements, Indiana College Preparatory School in Indianapolis will close at the end of the school year.
Bill aims to gather more education information on foster children
The Indiana Department of Education has very little data on how the 30,000 children in foster care perform in school. New legislation aims to change that.
IPS reduces proposed extra-funding request by $211 million
District officials said they still expect to be able to give raises to teachers if the referendums pass.
Indiana House panel drops opt-in requirement for sex education
The new bill would require schools to make two attempts to notify parents of the sex education curriculum before the classes start, with a period of at least 45 days between the two attempts.
Indiana lawmakers weigh ‘opt-in’ requirement for sex education
The proposal would require parents to be notified—and give them the opportunity to review—any curriculum dealing with sexual activity, sexual orientation or gender identity.
IPS leaders could scale back their appeal for tax increases
The Indianapolis Public Schools board is likely consider a proposal next week that would reduce the district’s planned funding request. IPS officials have been planning to ask voters for up to $936 million over eight years.
Lilly Endowment grants $5.2M to EmployIndy for youth programs
EmployIndy’s goal is to reach 6,000 young people with job-training and education programs during the next two years.
State official criticizes IPS bid for almost $1B in additional tax dollars
A member of the Indiana State Board of Education said the district’s plan to ask voters this May to approve two referendums to increase funding has not been transparent. He also called the proposed tax increase way too high.
Indiana facing larger school funding gap than projected
The Indiana House and Senate have approved bills allowing an additional $25 million in school funding this year, but a new state legislative analysis predicts a shortfall of nearly $60 million next year.
Education chief DeVos makes covert visit to Indy innovation school
Without the knowledge of the Indianapolis Public Schools administration or board, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos filmed a segment at the school for an upcoming TV special on innovation in education and her one-year anniversary in office.
Lawmaker kills proposal to let schools hire unlicensed teachers
Less than a week after introducing the idea, an Indiana senator killed a proposal Tuesday that would have allowed school districts to hire up to 10 percent of their teachers without a traditional state teaching licenses.
Bosma: Major changes to state workforce system likely must wait
Pushing the discussion to next year is likely to frustrate advocates in the business community who believe lawmakers have toiled long enough on the workforce development system, making incremental changes year after year.