Collaboration between schools that on paper might be seen as competitors? You’d be hard-pressed to find quality examples. But ACE Prep Academy and Circle City Prep just joined forces, offering our local education ecosystem a compelling template for what inter-school collaboration can look like. Continue reading How ACE Prep and Circle City Prep Created a Collaborative Template for the Future
There’s a new acronym in town. I’m pleased to introduce you to the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA). It’s time to get acquainted to the advisory group that could transform the relationship between Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and charter schools in Indianapolis. Continue reading The Acronym That Just Might Transform the Relationship Between IPS/Charters
One thing that this legislative session proved is that the charter school sector carries weight as a collective. It is as much a political force as it is an educational force, its strength largely matching IPS. So where does the sector go from here? And what will its relationship be with IPS in the years to come? Continue reading Where Next for the Indianapolis Charter School Sector?
Senate Bill 287 is now poised to become law. If signed by the governor, candidates in all future school board races will be able to declare a political affiliation, opening the door to increasingly politicized school board races. Continue reading How Will Indiana’s Likely Move to Partisan School Board Races Impact Kids?
An amendment to Senate Bill 373 could open the door to deeper collaboration between IPS and charter schools on student transportation and facilities management. But IPS still has pushback on the measure and is hoping to a few final changes before the bill reaches the finish line. Continue reading IPS-Charter School Alliance For Transportation, Facilities Moves Forward
A Supreme Court case being heard in April will decide whether states must allow the existence of religious charter schools. It threatens the very foundations of the charter school movement. Continue reading The Impending Supreme Court Case That Could Approve Religious Charter Schools
Recent immigration policy changes may already be having a negative impact on attendance and academic outcomes for some student groups. Meanwhile locally, a dust-up between IPS and Indiana’s Attorney General Todd Rokita brought clashing ideologies into sharp relief. Continue reading Current Immigration Policy Will Negatively Impact Student Outcomes. The Only Question is How Much?
Indiana is considering drastically increasing funding for virtual schools across the state. But given their checkered history and poor academic track record, is that a good move? Continue reading Do Virtual Schools Deserve Equal Funding?
Chronic absenteeism hasn’t gotten a lot of attention this legislative session. While two bills remain under consideration, there’s also a new report that digs deep into the practices of six Indianapolis schools to look at what they are doing to reduce chronic absenteeism. Continue reading How 6 Indianapolis Schools Combat Chronic Absenteeism
It’s Back to the Future time in Indiana with House Bill (HB) 1149 poised to resurrect the “A-F” grading system for schools across the Hoosier state. Assuming it becomes law (and it’s already passed the House, so chances are high), schools will once again be assigned letter grades each year based on a handful of metrics. Continue reading Indiana Schools May Be About to Pass or Fail… Again
