For first time in 4 years, no struggling IPS schools face ‘innovation’ restart
It’s a departure for the district, which has handed six neighborhood schools to outside charter partners since the creation of innovation schools four years ago.
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Deal with Ozdemir paves way for Purdue Polytechnic High School to open in Broad Ripple
For at least one year, the school would operate out of a building just east of Broad Ripple High School that Ozdemir's Keystone Group is buying.
Indiana debate over teacher pay boost remains unsettled
House Republicans will release their budget proposal within the next couple of weeks, with the Senate then taking its turn before the deadline on a final agreement by late April.
IPS board rejects acquisition bids for downtown headquarters
The IPS board on Thursday unanimously voted against two bids for the district’s downtown headquarters because they didn’t come close to the $7 million the district had hoped to receive for the property.
Price tag steep to make teacher salary competitive in Indiana, report says
Indiana is so far behind neighboring states in teacher compensation that it would cost an estimated $658 million to make salaries more competitive, according to a new report released Tuesday.
Developers bid on IPS downtown HQ, but district leaders unimpressed
Indianapolis Public Schools staffers are expected to ask the board this week to reject two proposals to buy the district’s downtown headquarters, after the offers came in well below expectations.
Rocked by scandal, weakened teachers union faces uncertain future
Fewer than half of Indianapolis Public Schools teachers are members of the Indianapolis Education Association, and some wonder if there is any point in paying dues to join a weakened union that seems to offer them very little.
Study of IPS shows new innovation schools might be bright spot
In the first major look at the results for innovation schools in IPS—a new kind of district-charter partnership—there are some positive signs but still some unanswered questions.
House committee passes tighter rules for virtual schools
House Bill 1172, authored by Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, outlines new rules to better assess and guide the educators, parents and students engaged in virtual school.
Panel backs proposal to move up appointing state schools chief
Indiana’s governor would begin appointing the state schools superintendent in 2021 instead of 2025, under a proposal endorsed Wednesday by the House Education Committee. Voters traditionally have elected the superintendent.
Legislators try to get tighter grip on virtual charter schools
New proposals stem from recommendations made by education officials, including potential solutions to low test scores and graduation rates, a lack of student and parent participation, and the need to improve their oversight.
Gov. Holcomb announces plan to pay off pension liability, free up money for teacher raises
On Tuesday night, Holcomb said in his State of the State speech that the state will use $150 million from its surplus to pay off a teacher pension liability that schools have been gradually paying down.
IBJ Podcast: What will The Mind Trust’s big infusion of cash mean for Indy schools?
The Mind Trust CEO Brandon Brown sat down with host Mason King to explain the group’s mission, its cooperation with Indianapolis Public Schools and how the new funding will help it ramp up its work.
Indy Eleven downplays Broad Ripple High School as potential stadium site
The Indy Eleven has expressed interest in the former Broad Ripple High School site as a potential location for its proposed stadium development, but the team tapped the brakes on that possibility Friday, noting it is continuing to evaluate multiple options.
IPS board aims for a quick search process to select the new superintendent
The board hopes to announce a formal process for selecting a superintendent next week. Ideally, it would like to conclude the search around March without using an outside firm.
$24M in grants to help fuel Mind Trust’s second act
The education-reform group, deep in its execution phase, is seeking to prove its vision is working for kids.
House teacher pay plan clears first hurdle, but critics say the bill doesn’t go far enough
A Republican bill calling on districts to raise teacher pay by making other budget cuts passed an Indiana House of Representatives education committee vote Wednesday, despite sharp criticism from school officials and education advocates.
Indiana Republicans suggest schools cut costs to raise teacher pay
The goal for school districts would be to use 85 percent or more of their state funding for instruction-related costs, such as teacher salaries.
Indiana’s high school graduation rate ticks up slightly
Indiana graduation rates have held relatively steady since 2011, fluctuating by small amounts each year.
Local tech company lets parents track their kids’ bus
Indianapolis-based Synovia Solutions’ Here Comes the Bus app has attracted 1.2 million registered users and 300,000 daily users in 3-1/2 years.