Panel backs bill on teaching cursive, school-start times
Indiana's public schools would be required to teach cursive writing and be largely prohibited from starting their school years until late August under bill approved by a legislative committee.
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Education committee backs looser school voucher rules
A proposal that would make thousands of current private school students eligible for Indiana's school voucher program has been endorsed by a state legislative committee, although cost concerns might block its chances of advancing this year.
‘Parent trigger’ would let parents convert schools
A measure being pushed in the Indiana House of Representatives would let parents vote to turn public schools over to charter school operators.
Indiana basketball tourney format to get second look
A state Senate committee rejected an effort Wednesday to resurrect Indiana's single-class high school basketball tournament, but the head of the statewide high school athletics governing body agreed to review the current format.
Judge upholds Indiana school voucher law
A Marion Superior Court judge affirmed Indiana’s school voucher law on Friday, rejecting opponents’ arguments that the largest such program in the nation unconstitutionally uses public money to support religion.
Indiana legislators consider basketball tourney bill
The Senate's education committee conducted a hearing Wednesday afternoon on a bill that would force a return of the state's old single-class basketball tournament, along with provisions to block school districts from starting their academic year before Labor Day and require the teaching of cursive writing.
Indiana schools chief Bennett gears up for re-election bid
String of controversial reforms draw campaign contributions, ire of opponents.
Voucher experience positive for one local high school student
Dayana Vazquez-Buquer is among 3,919 students from low- to moderate-income Indiana families who qualified for an Indiana Choice Scholarship this year. She praises the General Assembly for creating the voucher program.
Some worry vouchers could cause reverse migration
Private schools that saw enrollment swell this year because of Indiana's sweeping school voucher program fear they could see some of those gains erased next year as parents paying their own way instead enroll their children in public school so they can qualify for a voucher the following year.
Fort Wayne schools sued over vacant building
A state charter school association is suing the Fort Wayne Community Schools to keep it from deeding a vacant building to the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority.
Park Tudor land purchase puts stop to housing development
The private school recently bought the 5.7 acres north of its campus that Dr. Bill Nunery, a local ophthalmologist, had planned to develop into an upscale residential enclave known as Grace Hill.
Local judge to rule on school vouchers
An Indianapolis judge says he'll decide within 30 days whether Indiana's sweeping new school voucher law violates the state's constitution.
Mind Trust calls for decentralizing IPS district
By gutting its central office, Indianapolis Public Schools could free up $188 million to provide universal preschool, to pay key teachers more than $100,000 a year and to transform itself into a network of autonomous “opportunity” schools.
Waltons give $1 million to Mind Trust charter incubator
The $1 million grant from the Arkansas-based Walton Family Foundation will fund a team that will open its first charter school in the 2013-2014 school year as part of what the group hopes will become a network of high-performing charter schools.
Advocates: Vouchers living up to expectations
Nearly 4,000 students who formerly attended public schools are receiving tax money to help pay the cost of private school under Indiana's school voucher program, which is believed to be the nation's largest, officials say.
Turnaround company wants to launch feeder schools
Charter Schools USA, the Florida-based company tapped by the state government to turn around Howe and Manual high schools in Indianapolis, also wants to launch two charter elementary schools to help feed students into those schools.
Lilly Endowment gives $4.9M for teaching fellowships
Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. is giving another big gift to help fund the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, which prepares career changers and college graduates to teach math, science, engineering and technology in rural and urban schools.
Sides reach $150,000 deal in school-bullying lawsuit
A former student at a central Indiana high school has agreed to a $150,000 settlement of her lawsuit claiming school officials failed to stop bullying by a male classmate.
Ball State rejection threatens two Indy charter schools
Fall Creek and Fountain Square academies could be forced to close in May after Ball State University declined their applications this week.
Indiana lawmakers want cursive mandatory in schools
Terre Haute Sen. Tim Skinner and Oldenburg Sen. Jean Leising said they plan to submit bills when lawmakers return to Indianapolis in 2012 that would require the writing style be taught.