2016 NEWSMAKER: Jennifer McCormick, new state schools chief
Political newcomer Jennifer McCormick was elected Nov. 8 as state superintendent of public instruction—a surprise to many who expected Democrat Glenda Ritz to keep her seat.
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Tindley Schools network taps former principal for CEO job
Kelli Marshall will permanently replace Marcus Robinson, who resigned earlier this year after questions about the financial state of the network and his lavish spending as CEO.
Indiana’s online schools fall short but are allowed to carry on
Since their start in 2009, Indiana’s online schools have grown tremendously, and enrollment now tops 11,000. But every online school in the state that tested students in 2016—including four charter schools—received an F grade.
Lawmaker who called for ISTEP’s death now calling to extend its life
Rep. Bob Behning, who championed the so-called “kill ISTEP” bill last spring, said the state might extend its contract with the company that made this year’s ISTEP by another one or two years.
Indiana senators worry about cost of expanding preschool
Although Indiana’s House leadership has already come out strongly in support of expanding the state’s preschool program, key players in the Senate said Wednesday that they remain skeptical about added costs.
Three IPS schools put on notice: schools could be ‘restarted,’ teachers made to reapply
The three schools were all named Monday by the district as candidates for conversion to “innovation” status following years of low test scores.
Lilly Endowment awards $1.2M for teaching fellowships
One hundred teachers throughout the state—including 44 recipients from the Indianapolis area—have been chosen to receive grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of the Teacher Creativity Fellowship.
ISTA reboots after rough election
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz’s re-election loss in November was a big setback for the Indiana State Teachers Association, leading some observers to wonder how much clout the organization still holds.
Teachers could grade ISTEP replacement test under proposal
An Indiana lawmaker has proposed having teachers grade the state's new standardized test as major decisions for the replacement of the current ISTEP exams loom.
State panel backs shorter ISTEP exams without saying how
The educator-dominated panel voted 21-2 in favor of recommendations to state legislators that include moving the testing period from its current March and April times into a single time span in May.
Indiana officials consider sparing schools from penalties
Indiana officials are considering whether schools should be spared for a second year from penalties based on poor student scores on the state's ISTEP standardized test.
Indiana Republicans in no hurry to make state superintendent job appointed
House Speaker Brian Bosma said he’s advocated for reducing the superintendent’s power “for 30 years” but that he didn’t think he’ll make that a priority for the next legislative session beginning in January.
IPS superintendent lands bonus, even as district test scores go down
The same day the public learned that test scores fell at the vast majority of Indianapolis Public Schools, Superintendent Lewis Ferebee got a $26,999 bonus.
School referendums are passing at higher rates than before
It was a banner year for school referendums across Indiana, with all but three of the 20 ballot questions in this year’s primary and general elections turning out successfully for the districts.
IPS sees test scores drop at vast majority of schools
Scores fell across the state, but the situation was worse in IPS, where the passing rate went down by 4 percentage points to 25.3 percent in 2016.
Indiana bucks the test score trend and posts a second straight year of declines
Across the state, 51.6 percent of students in grades 3-8 passed both the math and reading test, down from 53.5 percent in 2015.
Trump’s school choice expansion plan may face uphill battle
School voucher programs in the nation's capital and Vice President-elect Mike Pence's home state of Indiana could serve as a blueprint for a Trump administration.
ISTEP replacement panel divided over offering specific plan
Committee chairwoman Nicole Fama, a principal in the Indianapolis Public Schools district, told members Tuesday she would work with their suggestions and draft a “very broad” proposal ahead of the final meeting Nov. 29.
Park Tudor avoids felony prosecution in Kyle Cox probe
An agreement with federal prosecutors revealed Tuesday spares the private, north-side school from prosecution for failing late last year to accurately and promptly report an inappropriate relationship between the school’s former basketball coach and a 15-year-old female student.
Indiana panel begins forming consensus around ISTEP exam
Members of a state panel criticized by Indiana superintendents for being slow in rolling out a replacement for the ISTEP student test said they expect to forward a detailed proposal to lawmakers by the December deadline.