In the video, the third of its kind for the 2014-2015 academic year, Ritz ?explained a campaign that she, in addition to a number of other education, health and community professionals, is promoting called JumpIN for Healthy Kids that aims to increase the overall health of children in Indiana.
“The goal is to reduce and prevent childhood obesity in Indiana by ?ensuring that children and their families have real opportunities to make healthy choices,” Ritz said in the video. “As the weather gets warmer, enjoy at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity as a family in addition to eating healthy.”
Ritz added that Indiana ranks 41st in the nation in terms of childhood obesity.
In the video, Ritz also explained that ISTEP testing, Indiana’s standardized testing for students in grades three through eight, will have more testing ?sessions than normal because it will be measuring college and career ?readiness.
“The test is measuring whether your child is on track at each grade level to graduate without needing remediation,” Ritz said. She added that parents can go to doe.in.gov to read frequently asked questions about the new test.
Ritz said in the video that she is working with policy makers to streamline the test in order to make more time for teaching than testing.
She also mentioned the new student advisory council that was formed this year, which includes Ritz and 10 high school students from throughout the state with whom she will be discussing the various problems that public education faces in Indiana and different solutions to those problems, including ciriccumlum balance, funding for arts education and saving money to pay for ?college.
Each congressional district in the state has a student representative on the council as well as a member at-large. Indiana’s ninth district is represented by New Albany High School student Brandon Roberson.
The development of a new mobile app was ?announced that will connect students and parents to the Indiana Department of Education.
“I am excited about this endeavor and look forward to highlighting it in my next video message,” Ritz said.
Daniel Metz
