Delaware County school district quarantines 228 students
It’s the largest student quarantine in the state reported so far, topping the roughly 48 students affected in the Lanesville Community Schools in southern Indiana’s Harrison County.
Education & Workforce Development
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IPS board delays return to classrooms until at least October
IPS struggled with the shift to remote instruction in March, but officials said they were taking steps to mitigate problems this time around.
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Pence in Indianapolis: ‘We have to open up America’s schools’
Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of Education Betsy Devos and Dr. Deborah Birx, a leader of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, joined Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and leaders of Marian University on Friday for a roundtable about how to reopen K-12 schools and and universities.
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Ivy Tech breaks ground on $14M automotive tech center in International Marketplace
The center will move operations from a building it has operated in for several years at 1331 E. Washington St.
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Senators press NCAA for coronavirus rules, criticize schools’ liability waivers
To this point, having received recommendations but no mandates from the Indianapolis-based NCAA, universities have implemented widely varying plans to deal with the novel coronavirus for the upcoming academic year.
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Articles
IBJ Podcast: Pete the Planner on derailed college, early professional careers
Is this a good time for college students to take a “gap year,” instead of returning to campus in the midst of a pandemic—or paying for remote instruction? Podcast host Mason King asks IBJ columnist Peter Dunn about that and other issues facing students, recent grads and their families.
Governor, House speaker say they’re committed to fully funding schools
But the leader of the Indiana Senate doubles down on his statement that he can’t guarantee full funding for schools that don’t offer an in-person option for students.
Indiana seeks $2.2M from Daleville district for alleged virtual school fraud
State auditors said Daleville Community Schools failed to hold Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy to their charter contracts, review the schools’ finances, or press for improvements.
Top GOP lawmaker says schools might see less funding if all classes taught online
Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray sent a letter to school leaders on Thursday that said there’s “no guarantee” schools that choose not to resume any in-person classes due to health and safety concerns will receive 100% of expected funding.
Indiana schools hoping to avoid lawsuits as they reopen
If schools choose to reopen knowing the potential health risk, it raises an important question: How liable are school districts if a student or teacher contracts COVID-19?
Five takeaways from Indiana’s schools chief on reopening
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick addressed the media Thursday by video to answer some of the biggest questions about schools reopening.
Indiana teachers union supports national threat to strike over unsafe reopenings
The union—which statewide represents around 4,500 educators and school support staff—made its call for schools to open only if coronavirus cases are under control and schools have the needed safeguards.
COVID-19 reshapes back-to-school spending
The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, predicts record back-to-school spending this year, but other retail experts foresee big cutbacks.
As pre-K gains momentum in Indiana, pandemic creates new obstacles
After several years of building up its pre-K program, Indiana is now poised to evaluate the success of On My Way Pre-K. But the coronavirus could make it difficult.
Central Indiana school temporarily closes after positive virus test
Meanwhile, parents and caregivers of football players at an Indianapolis high school have been told to monitor their children after a player at Warren Central tested positive for the virus.
Parenting: ‘The mom shame is so real’: There’s no way to win in the pandemic
As schools across the country announce their plans for the fall, working parents are forced to choose from an array of bad options: Send your kids back to school, if it’s open, and risk coronavirus exposure—or keep them home with little or no supervision as you try to simultaneously parent, do your job and monitor your child’s online schooling.
Marc MCaleavey & Sara Beanblossom: Why after school care is essential to reopening Indiana’s schools
What we knew before the pandemic, but now understand in new and meaningful ways, is the importance of partnerships, many of which have been nurtured over the span of years. Collaboration among all stakeholders and most importantly schools, will be essential in order to “reopen” Indiana’s schools and support our workforce economy in the most efficient and effective way.
Marion County health officials cap middle, high school capacity at 50%
Marion County Public Health Department Director Virginia Caine also recommended that high-risk teachers and students be allowed to opt out of in-person instruction.
Faulty bar exam software tossed in favor of emails, open books
The Indiana Supreme Court issued an order Wednesday again revamping the July 2020 bar exam, opting to send test questions by email and allowing applicants to refer to notes and course materials during the test.
IPS officials want to start school year with all-virtual classes
If the proposal is approved by the school district’s board on Thursday, IPS will delay in-person instruction at least until October.
Law schools expecting first-year enrollment to remain steady
Despite the upheaval and uncertainty the pandemic has created for legal education, law school admissions officers say this fall’s first-year law class will likely be the same size, if not bigger, than the class that started in fall 2019.
Liberty Fund taps longtime tech-marketing exec as new chief executive
Sean Shelby will join Liberty Fund on Aug. 31, succeeding CEO and President Emilio Pacheco, who has led the organization since 2016.
EDITORIAL: Feds should stay out of local decisions about whether to reopen schools
Considerations about whether students should be in school are about far more than just whether it’s the best learning environment.
College Football Playoff Foundation contributes $800,000 to Indiana eLearning lab
The lab was announced several months ago as a project by the Indianapolis eLearning Fund, which was formed to support teachers in Indianapolis as they transitioned to eLearning. The fund contributed $1.6 million to developing the lab, which is now up and running.