House shoots down guns-in-schools mandate

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House on Thursday backed off a plan to require at least one person in every public school including charter schools carry a firearm at all times.

Cal College to take over Gary's Charter School of the Dunes

Calumet College of St. Joseph will become the new sponsor of The Charter School of the Dunes in Gary effective July 1, 2013.

Hoosiers cheer public schools at Statehouse rally

INDIANAPOLIS | Migdalia Romero and Emily Romero, the mother and aunt of students attending Lake Ridge Schools, joined nearly 300 parents, teachers and school leaders from across Indiana at the Statehouse Tuesday for a rally celebrating public education.

House honors retiring M'ville schools superintendent

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House honored retiring Superintendent Tony Lux of the Merrillville Community School Corp. Monday, unanimously adopting a resolution thanking Lux for his "years of dedicated service to the children of our state."

Pence cheers school vouchers, charter schools at rally

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence wholeheartedly embraced charter schools and Indiana's private school voucher program during a Statehouse rally Monday where he declared "education reform rocks."

Senate panel gives 'F' to school letter grades

INDIANAPOLIS | The Senate Education Committee approved legislation Wednesday that could end Indiana's A-F school grading system, permit some illegal immigrants to continue receiving in-state college tuition and give certain school corporations a say in whether new charter schools can open.

Parents, students criticize Lighthouse Academy consolidation plan

HAMMOND | Many parents of students at East Chicago Lighthouse Charter School were angry to hear the Lighthouse Academy schools in Lake County plan to consolidate in the fall, offering one high school.

Senate president stays busy killing 'statement' bills

INDIANAPOLIS | For the past two years, the Indiana House has been the source of Statehouse excitement as Democrats and Republicans repeatedly clashed in person and from afar over controversial labor legislation.

Ball State puts more rigor into charter renewal process

GARY | Tabitha and Eliseo Velez, who have six children enrolled at Charter School of the Dunes in Gary, are among parents and community members advocating the school remain open.

House approves plan speeding sales of vacant school buildings

INDIANAPOLIS | School corporations could dispose of their vacant buildings quicker under legislation approved 98-0 by the Indiana House on Monday.

More school choice options touted, extending vouchers to kindergarteners

As the nation celebrates National School Choice Week today through Friday local and state school choice supporters said they'd like to see changes in the law to give parents even more options.

NWI Federation hosts education summit

EAST CHICAGO | An Ohio proponent of public education told a crowd of educators, ministers, politicians and community members they must gather together to stop the corporatization of public schools.

New state superintendent looks past party labels for good ideas

INDIANAPOLIS | Glenda Ritz, the newly elected Democratic state superintendent of public instruction, isn't going to let a state government controlled by Republicans stop her from making changes she believes will improve Indiana's schools.

Bennett campaigns for better schools, second term

INDIANAPOLIS | State Superintendent Tony Bennett delivered a State of Education address Tuesday that sounded more like a campaign ad than an update on the status of Indiana's schools.

Indiana Charter School Board to take input on 2 proposals

GARY | The Indiana Charter School Board will host public hearings in communities throughout the state in September and October to collect input on proposals to open charter schools.

Gary Middle College opens doors

GARY | Gary Middle College opened its doors Monday night to 175 students who want to earn a high school diploma.

Gary school leader wants to open a charter school

GARY | The new superintendent of the Gary Community School Corp. is considering authorizing a charter school.

Local charters drain Gary school enrollment

GARY | The eight charter schools in Gary have had a dramatic effect on decreased enrollment in the Gary Community School Corp., more than in any other urban area of the state.

Charter, private schools show increased enrollment

Thousands of students across the state are enrolled in 72 charter schools, including a dozen in Northwest Indiana. In addition, nearly 7,500 students have enrolled in Indiana's voucher program, allowing families to use tax dollars to send children to private schools.