Ronak Shah: Better transit means real options for high school students
The bus rapid-transit system is one of the best tools in ensuring all students have equitable access to high school options.
K-12
Articles
Why aren’t Hoosier kids showing up to school—and how can Indiana lawmakers help?
Legislators’ efforts to improve student literacy and career readiness could end up fruitless if the state can’t solve another issue plaguing schools: Hoosier kids aren’t showing up to the classroom.
Lilly Endowment awards $21.5M in grants to boost instruction of reading
The recipient colleges and universities in Indiana will help new teachers strengthen their use of methods aligned with the Science of Reading, a vast body of research related to how children learn to read.
Five things to watch as Indiana’s school year begins
Recovering from the pandemic’s effects on student performance remains a top priority for schools, as state testing scores indicate that learning has stagnated.
State education board begins rollout of new K-12 standards
Indiana’s State Board of Education is moving forward with a plan that “streamlines” K-12 education standards and makes it easier for teachers to craft individualized lesson plans.
Washington Township schools settle sexual harassment, abuse lawsuit as North Central gets interim principal
Former Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Eugene White will temporarily lead the district’s only high school, which was also the subject of the lawsuit filed against the district last May.
Robotics curriculum initiative targets younger, nonwhite kids
A $2.6 million grant from the Indiana Department of Education, announced Feb. 21, will help expand a program offered by the IUPUI Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering.
Indiana schools still on hook for curricular fees under House budget plan
Indiana House Republicans said their budget plan would eliminate textbook and curricular fees for kids in K-12 public schools. But budget writers did not specifically appropriate state dollars to cover the cost
Senators debate ban on ‘inappropriate’ library materials for minors
Democrats and a handful of GOP lawmakers pushed back, arguing that the bill could lead to the removal of anything a parent deems to be unsuitable.
IPS delays vote on $400M operating referendum amid criticism from charters, biz group
The proposed operating referendum would provide $50 million annually over an eight-year period to expand student programs and increase teacher pay through the program.
Indiana lawmakers scale back on private school aid expansion
Critics argued the original proposal opened up tuition payments to private schools for even the wealthiest families.
Mind Trust secures $6.8M in grants from three local philanthropies
The grants are intended to support operating expenses for the Indianapolis-based education not-for-profit, as well as its work to support K-12 teachers, parent and student achievement.
Charter school group files complaints against IPS with AG’s office over $1 law
The complaints claim that the school board failed to alert the state Department of Education of its available buildings slated for closure within 10 days of voting to close the schools on Nov. 17, as required by law.
Tension over ballot measure to fund Rebuilding Stronger could get Indiana lawmakers involved
IPS heads into the new year amid public disagreement between district officials and some charters over how much funding from the referendum should be split up between different schools, if voters approve it.
Three charters want to occupy closing IPS schools that district hopes to keep
The six planned school closures follow the IPS board’s vote to adopt the Rebuilding Stronger plan last week.
IPS superintendent seeks tax increase to fund school reorganization plan
The tax referendum—which would be on the May 2023 ballot—would increase the median homeowner’s bill by $6 per month, IPS officials said.
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 sex educators face online attacks, skittish schools
Advocates for sex education in schools say the subject has been politicized by conservatives and lumped into the loud debate about what students are learning about race and what books they have access to in school.
Herff Jones partnership gives graduation memories a digital twist
The deal is with StageClip, a company that uses livestreaming to create 30- to 45-second videos of each graduate who crosses the stage at participating high schools and colleges.
Judge rejects effort to block Indiana online school fraud lawsuit
The lawsuit filed by the state Attorney General’s Office in July accused the two online schools of padding their student enrollments and inappropriately paying money to a web of related businesses before they were shut down in 2019.