Pence signs law expanding school voucher eligibility

INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence enthusiastically approved legislation Thursday loosening a requirement that students attend public school for at least one year to qualify for a private school voucher.

General Assembly wraps session distinguished by cooperative tone

INDIANAPOLIS | Hands were shaken, hugs were shared and state lawmakers, who spent the past four months passionately opposing each other in great and small policy debates, were all smiles Saturday morning after House Speaker Brian Bosma gaveled out the 2013 Indiana General Assembly.

Legislature meets into the night to complete its work

INDIANAPOLIS | Following four months of proposing, reviewing, bargaining, deal-making and voting, state lawmakers settled on final versions of legislation Friday for most of the remaining issues of the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly.

Lawmakers set to approve state budget, adjourn for year

INDIANAPOLIS | The Republican-controlled General Assembly early this morning was on the verge of approving a two-year state budget plan that reduces taxes on Hoosiers by $1.1 billion.

Senate committee shrinks voucher expansion plan

INDIANAPOLIS | A Senate panel scaled back a House-approved expansion of Indiana's private school voucher program Thursday by keeping most current eligibility requirements and only slightly increasing the value of a voucher.

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.

Legislature embracing cooperation over conflict at midpoint of session

INDIANAPOLIS | For the first time since 2010, the Indiana General Assembly has made it to the midpoint of its annual session without a walkout, boycott or protest shutting down the business of the legislature.

3-year-olds dropped from state preschool proposal

INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana House agreed Thursday to limit participation in a preschool voucher pilot program to 4-year-olds only.

House education panel OKs voucher expansion, preschool funding

INDIANAPOLIS | Two education proposals backed by Gov. Mike Pence that would expand eligibility for Indiana's private school voucher program and extend state voucher funding to pre-kindergarten students were approved Thursday by a House committee.

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.

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.

Indiana Supreme Court scrutinizes school vouchers

INDIANAPOLIS | The fate of Indiana's school voucher program, which uses state tax dollars to pay tuition for some students attending private schools, appears to rest on how the Indiana Supreme Court interprets four words in the state constitution.

Region public schools that lost students to private schools using vouchers

Constitutionality of school vouchers

East Chicago's St. Stanislaus School second graders raise their hands to solve a math problem at the school. Last school year, St. Stanislaus had the second-highest number of vouchers in the state with 80 vouchers. Ambassador Academy, a Christian school in Gary, led the state last year with …

Ind. Supreme Court set to review constitutionality of private school vouchers

INDIANAPOLIS | Indiana's school voucher program, which has used state tax dollars to pay private school tuition for more than 13,000 elementary and high school students over the past two years, will be scrutinized Wednesday by the Indiana Supreme Court.

Gregg comes out swinging in first gubernatorial debate

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. | Democrat John Gregg tore up Republican Mike Pence in the first Indiana gubernatorial debate Wednesday, blasting the six-term congressman for promoting policies that have cost jobs and for seeking to divide Hoosiers on social issues.

Top Dem warns of 'unwritten' GOP agenda

INDIANAPOLIS | State Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker is warning Hoosiers that re-electing Republican majorities to the Indiana House and Senate will lead to divisive new laws on controversial social issues.

GOP introduces Statehouse agenda

INDIANAPOLIS | House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, announced Thursday a Republican governing agenda focused on jobs and education, but he also said legislation on social issues, such as abortion and gay marriage, will likely be heard during the 2013 legislative session.

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.

Pence issues familiar prescription to improve families

INDIANAPOLIS | Republican Mike Pence bypassed the opportunity to inject social issues in the race for Indiana governor Tuesday, announcing instead a "strong families" plan that recycles many policies of current Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels.