IPS has second chance to learn playbook, cram for referendum
The school district’s decision to postpone planned ballot measures for $725 million raises questions about why leadership couldn’t get it right the first time.
school funding
IPS delays tax-hike referendums to November after criticism
Indianapolis Public Schools is backing off on its plan to ask voters in May to support a major tax hike to pay for the city’s schools, instead deciding to work with the Indy Chamber to revise its proposal and delay the referendums until November.
House panel strips major parts of Senate workforce development bill
The House Ways and Means committee on Tuesday made big changes before unanimously passing Senate Bill 50.
Armory revamp for Herron High School campus clears major financing hurdle
Leaders of the $10.3 million Riverside High School project on the west side—a sister to Herron High School and set to open in the fall—have cobbled together several funding sources to finance the project.
IPS board votes to ask taxpayers for $936 million in additional funding
District leaders said that in the face of declining state and federal funding, raising property taxes is the only tool IPS has to fund teacher raises, building maintenance, busing and quality special ed programs.
Holcomb’s agenda for 2018 targets workforce issues, education, opioids
Gov. Eric Holcomb said there would be “no more stove-pipe approach,” referring to criticisms by some legislative leaders that the workforce development system is convoluted and divided into isolated silos.
Online school receives millions from state despite poor performance, unconventional spending
Indiana Virtual School has attracted thousands of students but graduated very few. A Chalkbeat Indiana investigation found the school’s founder hired his own company to manage the school, for which it received millions of dollars.
Indiana Board of Finance OKs $3.1M loan for Gary schools
A state-appointed emergency manager began operating the school district six weeks ago after elected trustees failed to pass balanced budgets and ran up more than $100 million in debt.
State push leads thousands to re-enroll in college
Officials want to boost Indiana’s college attainment rate from 41 percent to 60 percent by 2025 and think targeting people who have shown an interest in school but never finished may be the fastest way to get there.
DeVos expected to reveal school choice plan at local event
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is among several well-known names slated to appear Monday in Indianapolis at the annual summit for the American Federation of Children.
Voters approve three Hamilton County school referendums
Carmel Clay Schools and the Sheridan Community School Corp. had proposed seven-year tax hikes for operational funding, and Westfield Washington Schools asked taxpayers to cover the costs of $90 million in construction projects.
Lawsuit targets charters approved by private, religious schools
An education advocacy group has sued the state and a controversial charter school, seeking to block funding because the group argues that it is unconstitutional for private religious institutions to approve charter schools, which are funded by tax dollars.
Holcomb plans to sign pre-K expansion bill
Holcomb says the bill provides access to high-quality early education for “thousands” of poor families.
Wise investment? Voucher system’s effectiveness tough to judge
Over six years, the state has spent more than a half billion dollars on vouchers. During that time, Indiana’s program has expanded, giving more students access to vouchers than in any other state—despite mixed evidence from researchers that vouchers help students achieve.
Well-regarded Herron High School seeks to strengthen ties with IPS
Joining the IPS innovation network would give Herron access to additional funding, but it would retain most of its independence. Herron’s head of school said the move "will not impact students in any way."
IPS likely to ask taxpayers for property-tax increase
Superintendent Lewis Ferebee said he believes the district will “absolutely” need to have a referendum for more funding to pay teachers at the current rate and potentially increase pay in the future.
Shrinking school districts to see less money under House budget plan
Suburban schools, English-learners and virtual schools would fare well under the Indiana House’s 2017 budget plan, while Indianapolis Public Schools and other urban districts would see drops in state support.
S&P threatens to downgrade Indiana school debt
Citing concern about a state statute governing debt repayment, Standard & Poor’s said that it has placed a 90-day watch on the rating for loans to all Indiana school districts.
State lawmakers add voucher access to preschool expansion bill
The voucher language has injected some controversy into a bill that has received bipartisan support.
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.