Indiana education board gets five new members
The new board will be without two members who clashed with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz the past two years.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Deal calls for special study of ISTEP exam’s future
Some senators had pushed a bill calling for replacement of the exam with an "off-the-shelf" test in hopes of saving millions of dollars. But House members favored keeping ISTEP in place while undertaking a special review of a possible overhaul.
Republicans eye more rules on Ritz, education board dealings
Indiana legislative leaders are considering steps to broaden the Republican-backed proposal aimed at allowing the state Board of Education to replace the state superintendent of public instruction—currently Democrat Glenda Ritz—as its leader.
Schools delay testing, seek online waivers after glitches
School districts across Indiana are delaying the second round of ISTEP+ testing or asking the Department of Education for permission to administer the exam with paper and pencil after experiencing continuing problems with an online server.
Lawmaker renews efforts to require schools to teach cursive
A longtime supporter of requiring Indiana schools to teach cursive writing is making her fifth attempt to restore the skill to Indiana's curriculum.
As immigration reshapes Indy, schools struggle to keep up
The Legislature has slashed extra aid to support English language learning programs at the very moment when schools are struggling with explosive growth of children who need them.
Bills would allow public/charter partnerships to grow
After seeing a 2014 law fuel unprecedented collaborations between Indianapolis Public Schools and such charter schools as Phalen Leadership Academies, the Legislature decided to extend the same opportunity to school districts statewide.
Education board leadership bill nears final approval
A Republican-backed proposal that would allow the Indiana superintendent of public instruction—currently Democrat Glenda Ritz—to be replaced as leader of the state Board of Education advanced Tuesday toward final negotiations in the Indiana Legislature.
House rejects delaying education board control change
Republicans in the Indiana House on Monday rejected a series of Democratic-sponsored amendments to a contentious bill that would allow the state Board of Education to elect its own chairman.
Report predicts demand for school vouchers will level off
Statewide school voucher programs across the U.S. are starting to see demand level off, but Indiana's relatively new program has yet to discover its capacity, Indiana University researchers say.