Teachers union official: Indiana hostile to teachers
The head of a national teachers union said Indiana’s Department of Education is among the three most hostile to teachers in
the country.
K-12
Articles
Other states join Indiana in spurning grant program
About two dozen states are going back to Washington for another shot at billions in education grants under the “Race to the
Top” program, but at least nine others including Indiana are opting out of trying a second time.
Voters back school-funding plans across central Indiana
Voters in Washington Township, Pike Township, Speedway, Carmel Clay and Noblesville approved
higher tax rates to help prevent teacher cuts or support building projects.
Several school districts seek passage of referendums
Administrators are asking for millions of dollars of additional money to prevent teacher cuts and to support school building
projects.
Education trend targets training for principals
Three Hoosier universities—Notre Dame, Marian and Indiana—are moving to launch programs that seek to apply MBA-style training to the unique demands of schools.
Scott Jones brings Lemonade Day to Indianapolis kids
Launched in Houston three years ago, Lemonade Day aims to educate children from pre-kindergarten through high school how to
start, own and operate their own small businesses.
Indiana schools to exit Race to the Top competition
State will bow out of the $4.35 billion federal competition after a highly public feud between public schools chief Tony Bennett
and the state’s teachers unions.
Report: Indiana far short of funding teacher pensions
Indiana is among the nation’s five most underfunded teacher pension programs, but low ranking is misleading.
Cash-strapped schools eye full-day kindergarten
Many districts want to keep the full-day programs and say they’re considering increasing fees to do so.
UPDATE: Teachers union tells Bennett to start over on reform
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett invites heads of teachers unions to meeting to publicly share reform ideas instead of “bureaucratic rhetoric and no
specifics.”
Catholic charters approved by Ballard will be first in nation
Concerns about separation of church and state have prompted a national watchdog group to express reservations.
Bennett demands ISTA support for school reforms
State superintendent of public instruction says teacher union support imperative to win federal grant.
Catholic schools get final OK to become charters
The City-County Council gave its official blessing to two Catholic schools in poor neighborhoods converting into secular charters;
they will receive new names by fall.
State names second virtual charter school
Rural Community Academy, in Sullivan, south of Terre Haute, can enroll as many as 280 students in the 2010-11 academic year. Those students would do most of their work from home, accessing lectures and school materials via the Internet.
Thousands of teachers losing jobs, union says
Indiana State Teachers Association forecasts up to 5,000 teachers may lose their jobs. That’s about 8 percent of public school
teachers statewide.
Anderson schools might cut 200-plus jobs
A central Indiana school district could see 20 percent of its jobs cut for next school year as it works to close a multimillion-dollar
budget deficit.
Daniels: Without recovery, schools face tough 2011
K-12 education in Indiana already has faced $300 million in reduced state funding this year as the state has cut spending
in the face of lower tax revenues.
Schools decry funding disparity in lawsuit
Hamilton Southeastern will see its per-pupil spending of $5,000 drop about $100 in 2010 despite a projected 900-student increase,
the lawsuit says. Indianapolis Public Schools, which has lost more than 1,000 students a year for the last five years, will
receive $7,500 per student in 2010.
Growing Indiana schools districts suing over funding
Hamilton Southeastern, Franklin Township and Middlebury Community Schools of Elkhart County say the school-funding formula
unfairly penalizes districts with growing enrollments.
Some Indianapolis charters see financial position weaken
Mayor’s report shows smaller cash reserves for many schools, but one charter operator blames late government payments.