State lawmakers discuss expanding screening for teachers
State lawmakers are proposing legislation they say will help strengthen Indiana's system for running background checks for teachers.
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State lawmaker proposes ‘ILEARN’ test to replace ISTEP
Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, filed House Bill 1003 in the Indiana General Assembly on Wednesday, setting out details for a new state testing system, whose name stands for “Indiana’s Learning Evaluation Assessment Readiness Network.”
New scholarship for teaching garners interest from students
The $7,500 annual scholarship will cover about one-third of costs at a public college in Indiana beginning in the 2017-2018 academic year. The median cost in a public college in Indiana is $21,000 per year.
New state schools chief picked to lead Indiana education board
Board members voted unanimously after little discussion Wednesday to endorse Jennifer McCormick as the board’s leader.
Holcomb’s budget plan modestly boosts funding for Indiana schools
Democrats say it’s not enough, particularly in its failure to expand state-funded preschool to more counties.
Senate education chief expects delay for ISTEP replacement
The Legislature is expected to extend the life of the current test so that a new version can be written and thoroughly vetted before being administered.
Sullivan re-elected president on reconfigured IPS board
Mary Ann Sullivan will lead the Indianapolis Public Schools board for the second year in a row, bringing a dose of consistency to a board that begins the term with three new members.
Proposed bill will seek to make Indiana school chiefs appointed, not elected
Gov.-Elect Eric Holcomb on Thursday announced he wants to make Indiana’s elected superintendent of public instruction a governor-appointed position. House Speaker Brian Bosma is set to author the bill.
2016 NEWSMAKER: Jennifer McCormick, new state schools chief
Political newcomer Jennifer McCormick was elected Nov. 8 as state superintendent of public instruction—a surprise to many who expected Democrat Glenda Ritz to keep her seat.
Tindley Schools network taps former principal for CEO job
Kelli Marshall will permanently replace Marcus Robinson, who resigned earlier this year after questions about the financial state of the network and his lavish spending as CEO.
Indiana’s online schools fall short but are allowed to carry on
Since their start in 2009, Indiana’s online schools have grown tremendously, and enrollment now tops 11,000. But every online school in the state that tested students in 2016—including four charter schools—received an F grade.
Lawmaker who called for ISTEP’s death now calling to extend its life
Rep. Bob Behning, who championed the so-called “kill ISTEP” bill last spring, said the state might extend its contract with the company that made this year’s ISTEP by another one or two years.
Indiana senators worry about cost of expanding preschool
Although Indiana’s House leadership has already come out strongly in support of expanding the state’s preschool program, key players in the Senate said Wednesday that they remain skeptical about added costs.
Three IPS schools put on notice: schools could be ‘restarted,’ teachers made to reapply
The three schools were all named Monday by the district as candidates for conversion to “innovation” status following years of low test scores.
Lilly Endowment awards $1.2M for teaching fellowships
One hundred teachers throughout the state—including 44 recipients from the Indianapolis area—have been chosen to receive grants from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of the Teacher Creativity Fellowship.
ISTA reboots after rough election
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz’s re-election loss in November was a big setback for the Indiana State Teachers Association, leading some observers to wonder how much clout the organization still holds.
Teachers could grade ISTEP replacement test under proposal
An Indiana lawmaker has proposed having teachers grade the state's new standardized test as major decisions for the replacement of the current ISTEP exams loom.
State panel backs shorter ISTEP exams without saying how
The educator-dominated panel voted 21-2 in favor of recommendations to state legislators that include moving the testing period from its current March and April times into a single time span in May.
Indiana officials consider sparing schools from penalties
Indiana officials are considering whether schools should be spared for a second year from penalties based on poor student scores on the state's ISTEP standardized test.
Indiana Republicans in no hurry to make state superintendent job appointed
House Speaker Brian Bosma said he’s advocated for reducing the superintendent’s power “for 30 years” but that he didn’t think he’ll make that a priority for the next legislative session beginning in January.