Ballard’s charter schools chief to become VP at Mind Trust
Brandon Brown has overseen the opening of 15 charter schools since 2012, raising the mayor’s charter schools portfolio to 35.
K-12
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Victory Field to host football for the first time
Football will be played for the first time at Victory Field this fall when the 19-year-old baseball stadium hosts two high school games, the Indianapolis Indians announced Tuesday.
IPS, charter schools discuss common enrollment process
Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Lewis Ferebee said he’s had “very preliminary” conversations with city officials about creating a common enrollment process to be shared by IPS and Mayor Greg Ballard’s portfolio of charter schools.
Marion County districts to see funding increase in new budget
All 11 school districts in Marion County will receive an increase in per-student funding under the state’s new budget.
Charter Schools USA gets OK for south-side school
Florida-based Charter Schools USA, which operates three Indianapolis schools under contract with the state, earned a cautious go-ahead this week to open a charter school on Indianapolis’ south side next year. But the company didn’t get everything it wanted.
Program that helped put students on path to college leaving state
A combination of setbacks has caused College Summit, which helped high school students make it to college who otherwise might not have gone, to suspend operations in Indiana.
Prosecutor finds no reason for charges against Bennett
Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry announced Friday that his staff reviewed hundreds of documents and thousands of emails, but the evidence didn't justify criminal charges against former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett.
Salesforce makes $100K ‘flash-funding’ gift to IPS teachers
The crowdfunding donation, which took place Thursday morning, completed funding for 152 open projects, helping more than 11,000 students in 150 classrooms at 30 schools.
Kenyan private schools inspire $100,000 idea for Indianapolis
An Indianapolis not-for-profit is betting that a school reform plan with roots in Africa can help turn around a troubled Indianapolis public school.
Pence signs board bill, other education legislation
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed education bills Thursday that will revamp the State Board of Education, speed up state intervention into failing schools and give teachers more flexibility to experiment in the classroom.
New A-F school grading system OK’d amid more infighting
The State Board of Education approved a new A-F grading system for schools on Thursday, despite the state superintendent’s concerns that the rules have mistakes or ambiguities that will make implementing them difficult.
Pence set to sign $31 billion Indiana budget plan
The new two-year state spending plan was approved by the General Assembly last week. Slightly more than half of the $31 billion budget goes toward K-12 education, with funding going up 2.3 percent each year.
3 Marion County districts OK funding boosts; Brownsburg voters say ‘no’
Wayne Township, Perry Township and Beech Grove schools all passed referendums, but voters in Brownsburg rejected two proposals.
Mind Trust receives $2.5 million from Walton foundation
The Mind Trust, an Indianapolis-based education reform group, will use the money from the family of Wal-Mart Stores founder Sam Walton to provide more innovation school fellowships and launch more charter schools.
3 Marion County school districts ask voters for extra funding
Wayne Township, Perry Township and Beech Grove school officials say they need tax increases to provide relief from property tax caps the Legislature passed in 2010.
K-12 schools prepare for funding boosts, cuts in new budget
As Indiana’s fast-growing suburban districts breathe a sigh of relief with more funding on the way, many urban and rural districts are bracing for drastic cuts under the state’s new budget and experts say there might not be a middle ground between the two.
New workforce thrust aims to boost Indy tech expertise
Businesses and other employers can anticipate more technologically literate college graduates—and see their existing employees raise their tech game—if a new program pans out.
Ritz says campaign for governor a possibility
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz said in a press conference Thursday that she has not ruled out running for governor during the next election.
Lawmakers pass bill that will let Ritz stay chair of education board
A bill passed Wednesday gives the State Board of Education more authority to oversee Indiana’s ISTEP program and a new grant program that gives more money to charter schools, while keeping Superintendent Glenda Ritz as chair until the next election.
Proposed change to education bill would allow Ritz to keep chair
Senate Republicans unveiled a proposal Monday to allow the Indiana State Board of Education to choose its own leader, but not until Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, a Democrat, completes her first term in office.