Indiana adds funds for charter schools ineligible for $800M COVID relief aid
The state is setting aside a small amount of money for more than two dozen charter schools that weren’t eligible for the larger pot of federal funds.
Education & Workforce Development
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Indiana lawmakers take next step to require FAFSA submission
A bill that would require students at public schools to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid advanced to the Indiana House after lawmakers approved the measure in a Senate vote Tuesday.
Indiana lawmakers could end school takeovers for test performance
A proposal winning early support in the House would eliminate many of the consequences for poor test performance that typically loom over Indiana public schools.
Slammed by pandemic losses, NCAA revenue shrinks by $600 million
The Indianapolis-based National Collegiate Athletic Association saw revenue fall by more than 50% in its latest fiscal year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but was able to minimize the damage thanks to its financial contingency plan, the organization said.
Applications surge after big-name colleges halt SAT and ACT testing rules
The sudden explosion in demand for these and other big-name schools is another ripple effect of the coronavirus pandemic that could reshape college admissions for many years to come.
Fishers startup gamifies trading, targets historically Black colleges
Social media startup Stockteamup has partnered with the philanthropic arm of a hip-hop-inspired snack company to teach financial investing to Black communities.
Indiana House bill would offer $150 million for COVID-19 learning recovery
The proposal would allow local schools, universities, and other organizations to apply for $150 million in competitive grants to help students catch up.
School funding bill prompts questions about virtual learning
Proposals aimed at ensuring Indiana’s public schools receive full funding for all students during the coronavirus pandemic have prompted criticism from virtual learning supporters and one of the state’s top senators.
Indiana parent sues education board over virtual funding in the pandemic
The mother, who has two children who attend virtual schools in Indiana, argued that a rule to fully fund students who attend remotely because of the pandemic violates several laws and is unfair to children who were already enrolled in virtual schools.
House committee advances bills to create small business, learning loss grant programs
The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday unanimously voted to approve pandemic-related bills that would allocate $30 million to help small businesses and $150 million to help students struggling from learning loss.
IPS weighs eliminating school bus service for thousands of students
If the Indianapolis Public Schools board approves the most drastic cuts, about 5,600 high school students and 4,000 elementary school students could lose district-provided transportation.
Big-gift totals down significantly from prior years
While charitable giving increased overall last year, the number of million-dollar-plus gifts from individuals to Indiana organizations appears to have decreased.
Voucher expansion, education savings account plan could cost Indiana $100M
Indiana politicians are seizing on the upheaval caused by the pandemic to push forward a vast expansion of taxpayer funding for private education.
College Board scrapping SAT’s optional essay, subject tests
The College Board announced Tuesday it will discontinue those assessments. Citing the coronavirus crisis, officials said the pandemic has “accelerated a process already underway at the College Board to simplify our work and reduce demands on students.”
Indiana high school graduation rate rises despite pandemic
The increase in graduation rates may not reflect how much students learned because the state relaxed requirements after schools were forced to finish the year remotely.
Martin University focuses on workforce needs to close equity gap
The predominantly Black college—under the leadership of a president hired less than two years ago—is making moves to expand its enrollment, its reach among Black adults and its presence in the community.
Complaints prompt federal probe into special education in Indiana during pandemic
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened the investigation this week because of multiple complaints filed with the state that schools’ virtual learning plans did not include individualized services for students with disabilities.
More Hoosiers are earning post-high school certificates
The 2020 Certificates report shows that Indiana has gained 15 percentage points toward education attainment since 2008.
Indiana reverses decision to count hundreds of hidden dropouts
Wednesday’s board decision means high schools’ 2020 graduation rates will not decline as steeply as previously expected.
Indiana teachers frustrated over longer wait for COVID-19 vaccine
It’s unclear when Indiana teachers will be eligible for the vaccine, but they will likely have to wait several weeks until Hoosiers age 60 and older and people with medical conditions receive their shots.