Law prompts some schools to end open enrollment
A new Indiana law that prevents public schools from turning away transfer students with poor grades or disciplinary problems has prompted some districts to end their open enrollment policies.
K-12
Articles
A-F panel begins work on new grading system
Members of a new group studying the state’s A-F school grading system got to work Thursday with a history lesson of sorts that raised questions about the difficulty of marrying state and federal rules for education accountability.
State ISTEP scores inch higher despite testing problems
Hoosier students scored slightly higher on Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus exams taken in the spring, despite computer problems that interrupted some of the exams.
Former IPS chief White takes reins at Martin University
Eugene White will assume the post of interim president after the departure of George Miller, who left just 18 months after accepting the top job.
Dozens of judges to visit schools for Constitution Day
The judges will primarily visit K-12 schools and most will distribute pocket-sized versions of the state constitution, the federal constitution and the Declaration of Independence to students.
Senate Dems push universal state-funded preschool program
Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane, D-Anderson, said the benefits of preschool are too important to ignore for Indiana to remain one of 10 states that doesn’t put state funding into the programs.
Democrat calls for investigation of Bennett lists
Indiana's Senate Democratic leader called for an investigation Thursday after fundraising lists for former state schools chief Tony Bennett were discovered on state computers.
Fundraiser lists, emails raise Bennett questions
Former Indiana schools chief Tony Bennett faces scrutiny over the discovery of lists of Republican fundraisers on Department of Education servers and emails he sent directing staff to dissect a speech by Democrat Glenda Ritz.
Lawmakers debate education standards, testing
New college and career-ready assessments will gradually replace ISTEP, schools chief Glenda Ritz said at a legislative study committee meeting. But whether those assessments will be based on the controversial Common Core standards is still unclear.
Ritz: Bennett broke state rule with grade change
Ritz told Democratic activists last week "If you believe those (changed grades) were done because they should have been, you're fooling yourself."
Scores from ISTEP ready for parents of students
The Indiana Department of Education released ISTEP scores Monday to the families of students, but is still working on tallies for schools and school districts.
Rose-Hulman starts new year of homework hotline
A free tutoring service that has helped thousands of middle and high school students for the past 22 years is coming off a record-setting year.
State leaders vow transparency post-Bennett
Indiana's education leaders are learning from the mistakes of former School Superintendent Tony Bennett, starting with their promise to spend more time crafting Indiana's new school grading formula and doing so in the open.
UPDATE: Review of A-F system finds no special treatment
A legislative review has found former Indiana state schools superintendent Tony Bennett changed the grade for a charter school as a matter of “quality control.” The findings say the Christel House school in Indianapolis didn’t receive special treatment.
New school to anchor Central State project
The first new non-residential building at the former Central State Hospital campus, at the corner of West Washington Street and Tibbs Avenue, will be a charter school. Christel House Academy West broke ground last month on about nine acres donated by the city.
More than 1,300 ISTEP test results to be tossed
When ISTEP scores are released next week, parents and teachers will be able to easily identify whether a student’s exam was interrupted during last spring’s testing period and whether the results are valid.
GOP powerbrokers crafted Indiana education policy, emails show
The Indiana education overhaul associated with Tony Bennett and then-Gov. Mitch Daniels actually was crafted in private by a handful of state GOP bigwigs, including Al Hubbard, Mark Miles and Mark Lubbers, according to emails obtained by the Associated Press. Elected officials weren’t included for months.
Panel to make recommendations for grading system
State leaders have created another new education panel – this one to help develop an A-F grading system to replace one that has come under fire following accusations it was adjusted to help a specific school.
Indiana chooses new test to replace GED
The state plans to hire the company that struggled to administer this year’s ISTEP test to provide a high school equivalency exam that will replace the one in use for decades.
ISTEP results delayed again; target now Sept. 9
The release of the results of ISTEP tests taken by Indiana students this spring is being delayed further.