Indiana Senate amends pre-K education bill
The Indiana Senate shot down two proposed amendments to the pre-K education bill Monday, before finally accepting an amendment to add another member to the study commission.
K-12
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House committee votes to nix Common Core
The full House now will consider the controversial proposal to opt out of federal standards and allow Indiana to make its own benchmarks for preparing students for college and careers after high school.
Preschool education bill could be in trouble
The chairman of the Senate education committee said some senators are concerned about the bill–which would create a five-county pilot preschool program–due to its cost and connection to the state’s private school voucher system.
Lockheed Martin grants $6M to program of local ed group
The funds will boost an initiative by Project Lead the Way Inc. to expand science- and math-related curriculums in U.S. urban school districts.
Pence pushes preschool funding amid cost concerns
Under the House Republican plan, families earning less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level in five selected counties would get state aid to send their children to public, private or religious preschools that meet certain education standards.
Pence continues push for state-funded preschool
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence made another pitch for a pilot program to help families earning less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level send their children to public or private preschool.
Indiana Senate sends bill to kill Common Core to House
The state would move away from controversial Common Core education standards and replace them with curriculum guides written by Indiana officials under a bill that passed the Senate on Tuesday.
Deadline nears for saving Anderson’s Wigwam gym
School officials say a plan is needed to pay ongoing costs at Anderson's iconic Wigwam gymnasium while a group trying to save the building faces a deadline to hold off its demolition.
IPS boss supports cooperating with charter schools
A pending bill could usher in unprecedented cooperation between Indianapolis Public Schools and the city’s charter schools, resulting in significant financial benefits for both.
Voucher students who never tried public school on the rise
Four in 10 students using vouchers never attended an Indiana public school, even though the original 2011 law that authorized the program required it.
Teachers could get help with expenses under House bill
House Bill 1349 would establish a Classroom Expense Fund, from which money would be advanced to educators across the state.
Legislation aims to expand high school internships
The bill would add an intern-hiring incentive to the Economic Development for a Growing Economy program, commonly known as EDGE.
City, state to scrutinize charter curriculum that questions evolution
A Texas-based education organization with approval to open two Indianapolis charter schools teaches creationism and Christian-based character virtues, according to an article by Slate.com. It has prompted an expedited review of the group’s curriculum by Indianapolis and state education officials.
Teachers could receive money to pay loans under proposed bill
A bipartisan group in the Indiana House is working to give some public elementary or high school teachers $9,000 towards their student loans after three consecutive years of teaching.
New state law might idle school bus fleets
A state law intended to make sure cash-strapped public school districts pay their debt could have an unintended consequence: permanently parking the yellow buses that deliver students to class.
Indiana House OKs early childhood education pilot program
Under the program, families earning less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level would get state aid to send their children to preschool.
Senate committee passes cursive writing requirement, again
For the third straight year, Sen. Jean Leising has convinced the Indiana Senate Education Committee to advance a bill that requires schools to teach cursive writing.
IPS among four districts receiving F grades from state
IPS received 0.96 points, on a 4-point scale, based on its students’ performance in the 2012-13 school year—just shy of the full point needed to earn a D grade. Still, IPS’s score was greatly improved from the previous year.
Southern Indiana school district lowers graduation standard
A southern Indiana school system has reduced the number of credits required for a high school diploma for students this year, saying its higher standard put it at a disadvantage with neighboring districts.
Bennett hires top-flight defense in ethics case
Larry Mackey and Jason Barclay are representing former state education chief Tony Bennett in his case before the State Ethics Commission.