Short session was packed with activity
Indiana lawmakers were only at the Statehouse for 10 weeks, but they debated plenty of topics.
Chalkbeat Indiana
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Thousands of teachers gather for Red for Ed rally at Indiana Statehouse
Teachers say they are rallying for better working conditions, higher pay, increased funding for public school classrooms, less emphasis on standardized testing and more respect.
Educators’ Village housing initiative on east side struggles to attract teachers
One year since its first houses went on the market, seven out of the 15 homes sold are now occupied by teachers, making the village a much more mixed community than the developers’ initial lofty goals.
IPS wants high schoolers to take IndyGo instead of yellow school buses
It’s unclear, however, how many high school students will be able to rely on the city’s long-starved transit system to get to school if the district eventually stops providing buses.
State cuts off virtual school funding, but it’s unclear if it will get money back
In attempt to recover state money that two virtual charter schools received for allegedly non-existent students, Indiana has cut off public dollars to Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy, according to letters sent Friday by the state education department.
State education officials vote to recover $40M from virtual schools
The state education board voted unanimously to try to recover about $40 million from Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy after the state examiner found the schools inflated enrollments with inactive and out-of-state students—and, in one case, a student who had died.
State could seek $40M after probe finds virtual schools inflated enrollment
Two school years after a student died, Indiana Virtual School kept him on its rolls and received state funding to educate him. And that was just one example of how the school inflated enrollment by hundreds of students, according to the findings of a state examiner’s investigation.
Indiana school’s $500 recruitment deal reignites voucher oversight debate
The incident involving a Noblesville school raises questions over who’s responsible for ensuring private schools that receive vouchers comply with state laws.
IPS study-abroad innovation school to take year off
An Indianapolis school that allowed students to study abroad in 11th grade will close for the coming school year while leaders try to work through challenges that arose during its first year.
Indianapolis Public Schools picks interim superintendent to lead district
Interim superintendent Aleesia Johnson, a longtime ally of charter schools, was officially chosen to lead Indianapolis Public Schools by the district’s school board Friday.
After interviewing 3 candidates, IPS close to tapping its next superintendent
After meeting late into the night Tuesday, the Indianapolis Public Schools board is coalescing around a new superintendent, according to one of its board members.
Embattled Indiana Virtual School, sister school to close amid scandal
The tentative agreement between Indiana Virtual School, its sister school and its oversight agency comes several months after allegations emerged that the long-troubled charter network enrolled thousands of inactive students.
Two Marion County school administrators among 3 finalists for IPS superintendent
Indianapolis Public Schools' interim superintendent, Aleesia Johnson, and the other two finalists will face public interviews on Tuesday.
IPS to reveal superintendent finalists ahead of interviews next week
Days ahead of public interviews with superintendent candidates, Indianapolis Public Schools board members say they have three strong choices—but they are waiting to release their names.
Dogged by money and enrollment troubles, Tindley to downsize charter network
Prominent Indianapolis charter network Tindley Accelerated Schools will consolidate its five schools to three amid continued financial hurdles that have hindered the organization in recent years.
Former mayor urges school leaders to ‘step up’ to protect charter schools
As the school choice debate emerges as an issue in the presidential election, Bart Peterson, an architect of Indianapolis’ charter-school movement, says the schools aren’t fighting back strongly enough against their critics.
IPS superintendent opening gets 11 applications
The Indianapolis Public Schools board this week will begin meeting in executive session to review applications, identify finalists, and determine next steps.
Amid enrollment concerns, state charter board rejects two Indianapolis schools
The Indiana Charter School Board voted down two charter applicants Tuesday after raising concerns that they would not be able to attract enough students to be viable in a city where many schools are already under-enrolled.
Two Indianapolis school districts win extra funding boosts from voters
The local districts were among 10 school districts statewide that sought funding from voters to supplement the state and local money they already receive.
After years of debate, law increases oversight of virtual schools
Lawmakers’ actions this year, paired with a funding cut, represent the biggest steps the state has taken to regulate virtual charter schools since they launched a decade ago.