State budget contains offer to settle Gary schools lawsuit

INDIANAPOLIS | The state budget approved April 27 by the Indiana General Assembly contains, as expected, appropriations for every state agency to carry out its work over the next two years.

House, Senate earn 'incomplete' on changes to A-F school rating system

INDIANAPOLIS | Plans to reform the A-F grading system used to rate Indiana schools hit roadblocks in the House and Senate Monday, but the idea will likely be revived during the two months remaining in the legislative session.

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.

Indiana changes training requirements for new teachers

INDIANAPOLIS | Got a bachelor's degree? Get good grades in college? Congratulations, you're now eligible to teach in an Indiana middle or high school — no special teacher training, student teaching or experience necessary.

ANDREA NEAL: Daniels is education reform governor

Mitch Daniels used his first term to get Indiana’s fiscal house in order. His second term sealed his reputation as the education reform governor.

GUEST COMMENTARY: What is the A through F school grading system?

Remember when you were in school? Hopefully, you did your best to work hard to learn. The payoff was a good grade based on your hard work and your demonstration of achievement. In recent years, schools have been labeled in much the same way.

ANDREA NEAL: ISTA is still crying wolf over education reforms

In Chicago, teachers are poised to go on strike over a pay metric they think is unfair, longer school days they’d rather not work, and class sizes they consider unreasonable.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Roosevelt High needs expert help to return to excellence

There was a time when Gary's Roosevelt High School was respected as the best urban high school in Indiana.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Get involved in school improvement effort

Preparing children for college and careers is essential for every community's future. Unfortunately, 18 schools, including five in Lake County, have been identified as underperforming schools. Heading into their sixth consecutive year of academic probation, these schools now face state inter…

After half a century, school merger approved

A new LaPorte County school district was born on Wednesday in Indianapolis when the State Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the creation of the Tri-Township Consolidated School Corp.

IDOE schedules community hearings for schools on probation

As the 2010-11 school year winds down, the Indiana Department of Education will move closer to a recommendation to its board regarding 18 schools that are on probation and in danger of being taken over by the state.

ANDREA NEAL: In Indiana, textbooks aren't necessarily books

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett wasn't exaggerating when he declared, "From top to bottom, it's a new world for Indiana schools." Even textbooks won't look the same.

GUEST COMMENTARY: Put students first in turning around schools

In Indiana, nearly 25,000 students attend chronically failing schools. While these schools account for only about 1 percent of all Hoosier schools, the fact remains they have failed to improve even when given continual opportunities.