How hard is it to fire a teacher, really?
Red tape involved in firing teachers is thick. But risk-averse administrators may be the bigger problem.
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Rokita to politicians: Careful with donations from union
Secretary of state warns candidates that if he prevails in court, his securities division staff will pursue any money the candidates received from the Indiana State Teachers Association’s political action committee.
Tired-but-proud school buildings find new missions
More unneeded buildings are slated to be sold off by Indianapolis Public Schools, but creative people have turned other former schools into reuse gems.
Education Roundtable hires former union lobbyist as director
Dan Clark will direct efforts to coordinate and align Indiana’s K-12 and postsecondary educational systems, as well
as work force agencies like the Department of Workforce Development.
Report: Indiana could save $450M on school insurance
A new report says health insurance for Indiana's public schools and universities could cost at least $450 million less annually if they joined the state's plan for public employees.
Teachers union official: Indiana hostile to teachers
The head of a national teachers union said Indiana’s Department of Education is among the three most hostile to teachers in
the country.
Other states join Indiana in spurning grant program
About two dozen states are going back to Washington for another shot at billions in education grants under the “Race to the
Top” program, but at least nine others including Indiana are opting out of trying a second time.
Education trend targets training for principals
Three Hoosier universities—Notre Dame, Marian and Indiana—are moving to launch programs that seek to apply MBA-style training to the unique demands of schools.
Indiana schools to exit Race to the Top competition
State will bow out of the $4.35 billion federal competition after a highly public feud between public schools chief Tony Bennett
and the state’s teachers unions.
Report: Indiana far short of funding teacher pensions
Indiana is among the nation’s five most underfunded teacher pension programs, but low ranking is misleading.
UPDATE: Teachers union tells Bennett to start over on reform
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett invites heads of teachers unions to meeting to publicly share reform ideas instead of “bureaucratic rhetoric and no
specifics.”
Bennett demands ISTA support for school reforms
State superintendent of public instruction says teacher union support imperative to win federal grant.
Adjunct instructors organize at IUPUI
Two problems come with prevalent use of adjunct instructors: a perception that adjuncts reduce the quality of instruction
and the adjuncts’ frustration with low levels of pay, security and benefits, and appreciation.
Governor approves new teacher licensing rules
Daniels signed the new rules Tuesday, three months after a state panel approved them amid criticism from college educators.
Thousands of teachers losing jobs, union says
Indiana State Teachers Association forecasts up to 5,000 teachers may lose their jobs. That’s about 8 percent of public school
teachers statewide.
Anderson schools might cut 200-plus jobs
A central Indiana school district could see 20 percent of its jobs cut for next school year as it works to close a multimillion-dollar
budget deficit.
State tries new plan to track students’ growth
Instead of focusing on standardized tests, the Indiana Growth Model will monitor individual students’ academic growth to measure
their progress and identify effective teaching methods, state public education officials say.
Education by statistics
Inconceivable as it might sound, will the increasing focus on academic performance in public schools give private schools
a run for their money? It wouldn’t be the first time statistics upset an apple cart.
Daniels revives push to merge PERF, TRF pension funds
Gov. Mitch Daniels wants legislators to revive a merger of the Indiana Public Employees Retirement Fund and the Indiana
State Teachers Retirement Fund. He says the move could save up to $50 million a year in fees.
ISTA scandal could limit union’s influence, sway election
A securities-fraud case Secretary of State Todd Rokita brought against the union last month could make matters worse for the
already hobbled ISTA, blunting its ability to help elect Democrats in November.