Panel backs shifting power to Indiana state education board
An Indiana House committee has advanced a Republican-led proposal for shifting authority over education policy away from the elected state superintendent of public instruction.
Education & Workforce Development
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Nearly 80 schools, districts could face takeover under bill
House Bill 1638 would give significant new powers to the State Board of Education to intervene in schools earning a D or F grade for at least four straight years—even creating new schools within a school district.
Lawmakers consider shifting Ritz’s power to state board
A wide-ranging bill discussed Tuesday would give the Indiana State Board of Education authority over testing, standards, student data, state takeovers and teacher evaluation.
Lilly Endowment gives $3.4M more to The Mind Trust
The Lilly Endowment has now given more than $14 million to Indianapolis-based The Mind Trust to fund programs that recruit and train teachers for work in schools in the city’s high-need neighborhoods.
Franklin College names choice to succeed Moseley
Franklin College has chosen Thomas J. Minar, the vice president of development and alumni relations at American University, as its 16th president, it announced Friday.
Lawmakers debate Pence plan to boost charter funding
The Senate Appropriations Committee heard almost two hours of testimony Thursday from representatives both for and against the governor’s suggested $1,500 per-student grant to the state’s public charter schools.
UPDATE: House education chairman seeks OK for lobbying
Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis, formed Berkshire Education Strategies last June to represent out-of-state clients in the education field.
State senators pushing for new Indiana standardized tests
A bill sponsored by three Republican senators calls for the State Board of Education to revise Indiana's K-12 academic standards and select a nationally recognized set of exams for testing students by July 2016.
Lawmakers to discuss high school civics test measure
Indiana House committee members are set to discuss legislation that would require high school students to take the same test that immigrants must pass to become a U.S. citizen.
NCAA restores Paterno’s football wins record in settlement
The National Collegiate Athletic Association reached an agreement that will restore 111 wins it stripped from former Pennsylvania State University football coach Joe Paterno after the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal.
Education officials’ plan for school money differs from Pence’s
Indiana Department of Education officials presented their two-year budget proposal to the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday. It includes large increases to the Non-English Speakers Fund, textbook relief funding, and tuition support.
Bill would create fund for teaching expelled students
A bill introduced in the Indiana General Assembly would divert $10 million or more in state education money into a new fund that would make grants to schools that focus on teaching expelled students.
IPS ends 2014 with $4.1M surplus despite less state aid
Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Lewis Ferebee said he is concerned that IPS could see even deeper cuts in state aid going forward.
New software lets many workers customize their tech, forcing change upon educators
Indianapolis-based Ke Labs is among a growing number of tech companies trying to develop software that allows users to create or tweak their own programs—without knowing any computer languages or code.
Ferebee slams ‘victim mentality’ at Indianapolis Public Schools
Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Lewis Ferebee said the most persistent challenge he has faced since taking the helm of central Indiana’s largest public school district has been low expectations among employees, students and community stakeholders.
Study: Lingering in college is costly
The vast majority of Hoosier college students fail to complete their degrees on time, costing them and their families thousands of dollars in extra tuition and lost earnings.
Inmates could get trades training under Senate bill
Senate Bill 173, authored by Sen. R. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, requires the Indiana Department of Correction to establish a specialized vocational program to train minimum-security inmates in trades.
IU launches shuttle bus between Bloomington, Indianapolis
The shuttle offers WiFi, wheelchair accessibility, reclining seats, electrical outlets, DirecTV, a lavatory and a real-time bus-tracking interactive map.
Pence doesn’t push to expand preschool program
The governor said this will be an "education session" and said his priorities will include changes to the school funding formula and more money for school choice.
Bill would let state education board select its own chair
Democrats called the legislation a political attack that would let Gov. Mike Pence replace Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz, a Democrat, with his own leader.