Incumbent Odle loses IPS board seat in stunning shakeup
Sam Odle’s loss was a significant upset for the current administration. A former top executive at Indiana University Health, Odle won his seat with a wave of reformers in 2012.
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Indy charter school struggling with unexpectedly low enrollment
Ace Preparatory Academy, started by an aide to former Indiana schools superintendent Tony Bennett, is at about 22 percent of its initial expected enrollment, with just 33 students as of Oct. 19.
Superintendent candidates both say Indiana schools need more money
Restrictions put in place over the past few years on how much school districts can collect from property taxes mean districts have to more frequently ask voters through referendums to pay more in taxes to support schools.
Indiana superintendents demand action on ISTEP replacement
Indiana superintendents are blasting a state panel for being slow in choosing a replacement for the ISTEP student test, saying more delays will put students at risk.
Indiana students outscore U.S. peers on national science test
Despite improvement, most Indiana students who took the National Assessment of Educational Progress test did not meet the exam’s key “proficiency” standard in science.
IPS board member, seeking re-election, faces criticism for ITT role
Samuel Odle, a former hospital executive who was elected to the IPS board in 2012, served on ITT’s board of directors since 2006. The for-profit higher education company closed in September in the wake of federal sanctions.
Washington Township district warns of staff cuts if voters don’t choose tax hike
If the school district’s ballot measures worth $230 million pass, the district says it will upgrade technology, renovate existing schools and build a new elementary school.
Indiana schools chief candidates split on leadership, ISTEP
The race has garnered little attention during the year’s campaign season, but the winner will have a role in major education matters: the replacement of the much-maligned ISTEP exam, the push to expand state-funded preschool programs and possible changes to the school ratings system.
Feds, ‘encouraged’ by Tindley’s financial efforts, award network $1.9M grant
The Indianapolis charter network was the only Indiana charter network to win one of the grants.
Abandoned P.R. Mallory factory to get new life as Purdue high school
The east-side factory used to employ 1,500 dry-cell battery makers, but has been abandoned for decades.
IPS board OKs magnet-admission changes, opening doors to more diversity
Beginning next year, low-income students and children of color will have a better chance of admission to the most sought-after magnet programs in Indianapolis Public Schools.
IPS revamps budget to better fund schools with poor students, key grade levels
The new system is also meant to give school-level administrators more autonomy to develop programs and find efficiencies.
Holcomb’s education plan touts school choice, measured preschool expansion
In dueling speeches to education groups, gubernatorial candidates Eric Holcomb and John Gregg laid out their plans to improve state schools.
Hamilton County school district switches to solar power
Sheridan Community Schools, a small district of about 1,000 students, expects to save millions of dollars in power costs over 20 years with the move.
Competition for school kids heats up across Indy
Public schools—including traditional, district-run schools and charters—are employing ever-more sophisticated advertising and marketing campaigns in an effort to meet enrollment targets by the time the official state count day rolls around.
Indy employers to blitz 8th-graders with career choices at JobSpark
At the new event, more than 7,000 Marion County eighth-graders will get hands-on experience in eight job sectors, aided by some 3,000 volunteers from more than 100 companies.
UPDATE: School chief Ritz’s office backed app deal without bidding
Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz's office approved a lucrative technology contract that state government officials said should have been subject to competitive bid, awarding it to a company that later gave one of her key aides a senior job.
McCormick rejects Ritz’s favored ISTEP changes, backs SAT as high school exam
Jennifer McCormick, a school superintendent from Yorktown running for Indiana superintendent of public instruction, has revealed details of how she’d like to see Indiana’s testing system change.
IPS board OKs John Marshall conversion as part of realignment plan
The changes are part of a district-wide plan to separate middle school students from combined middle-high schools.
Candidates promise to end bickering in education—no matter who wins
The Republicans and Democrats running for governor and state superintendent say they’ll focus their energy on kids, although they have different plans to do so.