372 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(12/22/13 10:45pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Indiana Department of Education released 2013 A-F grades for Indiana schools Dec. 20, with 12 schools in the Monroe County Community School Corporation receiving As, five receiving Cs, one a B and two Fs. No school received a D. The only schools to receive Fs this year were Fairview Elementary and Highland Park Elementary. Fairview also received an F last year.Five MCCSC schools have received As all four years since 2010: Childs, Binford, Lakeview, University and Rogers Elementary Schools.Templeton Elementary School was able to improve their grade from an F last year to an A this year. “We are very proud at Templeton to be rated an A by the IDOE for the 2012-2013 school year,” Templeton principal Donald Carver said in an email. “It is definitely a more accurate reflection of the students, staff and families of Templeton.” Carver said their school works to implement new policies to help each student achieve their full potential. “With our rigorous curriculum based on the state standards we are constantly looking for ways to engage students, enrich and intervene every single student based on their individual needs to maximize their success, and we work together on a regular basis to continue to be better practitioners of our craft,” he said. Tammy Miller, director of elementary education for MCCSC, said schools are working to individualize learning for each student. “We need to help each student reach their potential with an individualized approach while also addressing the Twenty First Century Skills,” Miller said in an email. Miller said it is important to think of students first.“Higher achievement rates are often associated with schools that build instructional delivery systems emphasizing the needs of students first,” she said. “There is an emphasis on guaranteeing that each student will achieve mastery of the core curriculum and all aspects of the school are focused on this goal.”Gov. Mike Pence said the grades reflected the hard work of the students and teachers of Indiana. “The release of the 2012-2013 accountability grades demonstrate that our schools have risen to the challenge of improving outcomes across the state of Indiana and our kids are better for it,” Pence said in a press release. “These strong results are a testament to our students and the teachers whose dedication is delivering greater levels of success in the classroom every year.”Follow reporter Sydney Murray on Twitter @sydlm13.
(12/11/13 4:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The United States Department of Education launched its online Financial Aid Toolkit on Dec. 4. The toolkit is designed to guide student advisers and counselors in the process of helping students choose a college.“By equipping counselors and mentors with financial aid information, we can help to ensure current and potential students are getting the assistance they need to successfully navigate the process of planning and paying for a postsecondary education,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement. Duncan said this toolkit builds on the administration’s ongoing efforts to improve college access and affordability, and it is an important step toward meeting the President’s 2020 goal of having the most college graduates in the world.Martha Kanter, U.S. under secretary of Education, explained that the toolkit has shifted and combined many financial aid resources into one searchable database.“That makes it easy for individuals to quickly access the information they need to support students on their path to college, including details on how to apply for financial aid along with presentations, brochures and videos,” Kanter said in a statement.The toolkit includes resources for choosing which college to attend, how to apply for financial aid and how to pay off student loans. It also includes materials specifically for advisers such as presentations on these topics and training resources for more effective counseling. Duncan said this toolkit is an important first step in ensuring every student can graduate with the proper degree.“Simply put, our current system of financial aid is unsustainable,” Duncan said. “We can’t regain our global leadership in college attainment and enhance our economic competitiveness when so many students are left with steep student loan debts but no degree.”Duncan also said if the toolkit is deemed effective, a college rating system should be implemented that allows people to get the most from their money.“We’ll be traveling across the country to engage with everyone who can help us design an effective ratings system that helps students make smarter decisions about financial aid,” Duncan said.Duncan said in order to build a sustainable college system, the government, schools, parents and students must all participate.“We must all be in this together. No one gets a pass,” Duncan said. “I am absolutely convinced that financial aid officers must help lead the way toward that collective solution.”— Stephen Kroll
(12/10/13 3:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>In order to provide resources to Latinos in Monroe County, the Monroe County Community School Corporation organized their fourth annual Latino family night Monday.MCCSC collaborated with Latino Outreach, IU La Casa and Latino Cultural Center, El Centro Comunal Latino and Indiana Minority Health Coalition for the event, which featured interactive activities and presentations specifically tailored to the Latino community.The event at Summit Elementary School was composed of four different sections — education, health, civic engagement and culture.Interactive activities, such as games and safety awareness information from the Bloomington Fire Department, were organized for children, while parents were given two separate presentations.One presenter talked about ways to learn the English language, as some Latino families in Bloomington struggle with a language barrier. In addition, another presenter talked about the process of gaining admission into college and explained the steps necessary in order to ensure children are prepared to start applying once they reach high school.Daniel Soto, an assistant at Latino Outreach, said the goal of the event is for Latino families with children to come out and learn more about the agencies available to help them in Monroe County.Currently, more than three percent of residents in Monroe County identify themselves as Latino.“A lot of different agencies came together with the idea to help Latino families know what is available for them and help those who are in need,” Soto said. “We want to make it much easier for them and their children.”Soto said the biggest struggle for Latino families with children is the English language barrier, primarily in the school system. By exposing families to the necessary information needed to follow the path of secondary education, Soto hopes parents can take advantage and start early for their kids. “Many parents, because they don’t speak English, don’t always know how to access grades for their kids,” Soto said. “We want to help them learn so when they grow up they can look to a higher education.”Larry Gonzalez, a representative from the IU Office of Admissions, provided information to families at the event about the admission requirements for IU as well as the numerous scholarship opportunities that exist.Gonzalez said families can benefit from receiving this type of information early, even before high school, in order to start preparing for the future.“We lay it out for people so they know what they have to do to get into IU. It’s important to start the process early,” Gonzalez said. “We also provide information about scholarship opportunities, and for those applying with a dual citizenship.”Follow reporter Brett Frieman on Twitter @brttfrmn.
(12/09/13 3:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The battle between Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz and the Indiana State Board of Education is ongoing.The Indiana Department of Education released on Dec. 4 a letter from Gov. Mike Pence’s Center for Education and Career Innovation outlining its policy plans, one of which is the removal of Ritz from her current position as chair of the SBOE.Ritz filed a lawsuit in October, alleging that the SBOE had gone behind her back in drafting a letter which requested the state’s A-F school grades be calculated by an organization other than her department. She said this violated Indiana’s Open Door Law on public meetings. The lawsuit was dismissed by Marion Circuit Court Judge Louis Rosenberg, who said Ritz would only be able to be represented by Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller. The Board would also have to be represented by Zoeller, prompting ethical concerns. Ritz also said Gov. Pence’s newly created CECI has been struggling to assume some of her department’s powers.“Superintendent Ritz reaffirmed her position that the CECI is seeking to have her removed as Chair of the State Board and lessen her authority,” Ritz’s press secretary Daniel Altman said in a statement.The CECI letter outlines Ritz’s position as a problem.“Indiana is one of only two states whereby the elected superintendent, who heads the administrative department, is also chair of the policymaking State Board,” the letter said. The letter goes on to say that due to the size of the education budget, the right to determine the chair leader falls to the executive leader, the governor, as defined by the state constitution. The proposed solution is to revise gubernatorial appointments to include the chair of the SBOE.“The chair is currently interpreting the role of chair very broadly to give her the discretion to accept or reject agenda items and motions suggested by board members,” according to the letter.Ritz responded by saying she intends to maintain her department’s strength in Indiana’s education system.“As an educator and a parent, I know that the protection of student information is one of the key roles of the department,” Ritz said in a statement. “I am committed to ensuring that the elected Office of the Superintendent continues to serve as Chair of the State Board while preserving the authority of the department to protect the voice of the voters and the integrity of public education in Indiana.”— Stephen Kroll
(12/05/13 5:03am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The graduation rate rose to 86 percent for Indiana, one of sixteen states to be at or above 85 percent, according to four-year high school graduation rates for 2011-2012 released by the U.S. Department of Education on Nov. 27. This is an improvement from 2010-2011 when just nine states reached 85 percent. Indiana has shown steady improvement through the years, increasing consistently from 76 percent back in 2006.The Monroe County Community School Corporation has beaten the state percentage with a graduation rate of 87 percent for 2011-12, rising from 80 percent in 2006.Janice Bergeson, director of secondary education at MCCSC, credited the school system’s success to a number of factors, including looking beyond the diploma.“For the last several years, we’ve focused on not only the graduation rates but the success of our students,” Bergeson said. “We’ve looked at our students and identified what we want them to know.”Bergeson said information retention for students is key in getting them to a suitable level of education.“We focused not only on how they learned the material today, but how they will keep and apply this information while moving forward,” she said.One way MCCSC facilitated this retention was with the aid of reading specialists and interventionists, teachers designated to getting struggling students back on track. Bergeson said MCCSC hired specific teachers in the math and English departments for each school.“Each building is different, and each teacher uses different methods, but they all focus on comprehension,” Bergeson said. “Many of the teachers go between classrooms in the building, working with students in small groups. We’ve found that to be effective.”Bergeson also said budget cuts have been a difficult hurdle to cross in keeping graduation rates up.“We’re fortunate in MCCSC that our referendum passed a couple of years ago to give more money to schools,” she said. “That has really made this possible, so thank you to Monroe County.”Bergeson said she has seen improvements in all schools and grades.“Success is more than just graduates, but I’m pleased with our growth,” she said. “Of course, if you’re not at 100 percent graduation, you have places you can improve.” Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(12/05/13 4:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The office of Glenda Ritz, Indiana superintendent of public instruction, released a document that Ritz says shows how Gov. Mike Pence’s Center for Education and Career Innovation wants to lessen her authority.According to a press release from Ritz’s office, the document says the CECI wants to remove Ritz as chair of the State Board of Education, transfer and erode local control over school facilities, and take away authority statutorily given to the Department of Education.Ritz said the document shows the CECI is attempting to change a governing structure that has worked for more than 100 years under both Democrats and Republicans.“I am committed to ensuring that the elected Office of the Superintendent continues to serve as chair of the State Board, while preserving the authority of the department to protect the voice of the voters and the integrity of public education in Indiana,” Ritz said in a release. — Matt Stefanski
(12/04/13 3:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A new tool was developed to show how connected American education is to the rest of the world.On Nov. 18, the U.S. Department of Education released its Mapping the Nation program, an interactive map of the U.S. that shows state-level data on demographics, economics and education relating to global connectivity.Indiana’s data varies on the map. K-12 international language enrollment is at 15 percent, in the lower third of all states, and has shown no improvement.However, Indiana also has more than 49,000 students enrolled in post-secondary language programs, placing it in the upper third of all states. It also has more than 8,000 students studying abroad, the eighth most of any state. Monroe County leads both of these statistics in Indiana. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said the key to a nation’s success is its ability to prosper globally, and interacting comfortably with all cultures is critical.Maureen McLaughlin, director of international affairs at the Department of Education, said the map’s data could serve education in America by comparing international programs with global awareness.“With nearly one million data points related to economics, demographics and education, we can see how prepared our states and local communities are to operate effectively in an increasingly interconnected world,” McLaughlin said in the release.McLaughlin said one application of the map is imparting such global awareness to teachers. “If teachers are convinced of the importance of global competency and are globally competent themselves, they will more easily impart that to their students,” she said.McLaughlin said most states are diverse like Indiana, with a wide spectrum of international programs and diversity.“Some have high concentrations of international students and scholars, some have diverse immigrant populations who are spread across the wider area, some have highly concentrated immigrant populations and some have little diversity,” she said. Secretary Duncan said this map and the data it provides is the first step in improving global education for American students.“I believe this map can help spark important conversations and challenge partners to work more effectively to build a stronger pipeline of globally competent citizens,” he said. “But for the nations of the world to master our challenges and maximize our opportunities, we need to focus like never before on unleashing all of humanity’s vast potential through the equalizing, life-transforming power of a great education.”Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(12/02/13 3:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the next two weeks, the Monroe County Community School Corporation will receive help from holiday shoppers.The second annual online auction for the Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools is currently underway. The “Reading, Writing & Bidding!” auction started Nov. 25 and will run until Dec. 9.The auction’s 196 items include a basketball signed by all three Zeller brothers, a stay at French Lick Springs Hotel and a vintage IU lamp from Nick’s English Hut. The item prices vary from hand-painted, ceramic piggy banks valued at $10 to an all-inclusive family trip to Disney World and Seaworld, valued at $7,100.Companies from around the area have donated items to the auction, including a membership pass from the WonderLab museum, pizza from Aver’s and tickets to IU basketball games.The bidding takes place online at biddingforgood.com. There have been more than 400 bids placed and $5,000 raised already. The goal is to raise $15,000.The money raised will go to education opportunities for all students and teachers in MCCSC. Last year the auction raised more than $10,000.The FMCCS’s mission statement on its website says it works to provide all students in MCCSC with the tools they need to succeed in their education. This past year, FMCCS raised more than $76,000 for MCCSC through various grants and scholarships.“Now is the time to tackle your holiday shopping while knowing you are helping provide the support necessary for your community’s children to thrive in the classroom,” according to the website.— Stephen Kroll
(11/22/13 5:18am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Rep. Rebecca Kubacki, R-Syracuse, chairman of the Family, Children and Human Affairs Committee, plans to cosponsor day care ratio bills this year, which would impose new rules on unlicensed, federally-funded day cares.Ratios in day cares are the number of children per number of staff members present.“What we’re hoping to do this next session is to take it a little bit further and deal more with ratios,” Kubacki said.Kubacki said she wants fewer children per the number of staff members present. Some other things Kubacki has worked on are ensuring day care providers have national background checks performed and master basic CPR skills.National background checks allow employers to see applicants’ crimes committed in any state, not just in Indiana.Any day care that receives Family and Social Services Administration funding will have to adhere to the legislation child care reforms.“Anyone that receives FSSA have to abide by the same principles,” Kubacki said.Kubacki said these reforms are important to her because she is a mother and a grandmother.Many mothers have to work because they have no choice, she said. They are low-income families, but just because they are low-income does not mean they should have sub-standard care, she said.“Children need to be taken care of properly, especially if you’re getting federal funding,” Kubacki said. “That’s supposed to take care of that problem.” Kubacki said she is not sure why day care reforms have not been an issue before, but she has made it an issue now. “I can’t tell you why it hasn’t been done, but in the future, it’s going to be a priority of mine,” Kubacki said.If ratios were to be enforced, it might affect day cares who try to offer a lower price child care option.Hiring more staff to meet the staff member-to-child ratio quota would mean the day care would have to raise the tuition price in order to cover staff salaries. Therefore, parents might not be able to afford it. Tamra Mullins, owner of Kozy Kids Daycare, a licensed home day care, said her day care follows the ratio of 15 children to two providers. She said she believes the ministry day cares, which are operated by a church or religious organization, will be affected because the amount of children they can take is based on square footage and not ratios, while her home licensed day care has a cap of 16. “You don’t want 50 kids with two people watching them,” Kubacki said. “The reason you want ratios is because in a fire or anything like that you want to have enough people to take up the children you’re taking care of.”Follow reporter Mary Hauber on Twitter @mary_hauber.
(11/22/13 5:14am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Monroe County Community School Corporation and the United States Department of Education both agree education should start early. The U.S. Congress introduced the Strong Start for America’s Children Act in November, which is a 10-year program meant to fund preschool for 4-year-old children from families at less than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. According to a press release, this bill is important for children’s futures.“The early learning bill introduced today (Nov. 13) reflects a growing, bipartisan understanding that to ensure our nation’s children have the educational and economic opportunities they deserve, we must act early,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement. MCCSC Director of Primary Education Tammy Miller said MCCSC has more than 200 students enrolled in preschool across the district, representing different socioeconomic backgrounds.“Our programs include our fee-based Ready Set Grow program, as well as Title One Preschools in Grandview, Fairview, Templeton and Summit elementary schools,” Miller said. “We have been fortunate to have the support of the Community Foundation to get support for initiating each of our Title Preschools.“Miller said she believes additional funding from the proposed bill could help families in MCCSC who need more money for early schooling.— Stephen Kroll
(11/21/13 4:56am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Parents who wish to have a meeting with teachers in the Monroe County Community School Corporation will now have to schedule an appointment themselves, according to a MCCSC announcement.Conferences used to take place during an early dismissal day, which conflicts with the law. Conferences are no longer required. State law determined that students must have five hours of instruction each day, and conferences aren’t included in those hours.“State law changed a few years ago,” said Beverly Smith, MCCSC director of School and Community Services. Smith said parents can now get in touch with teachers in many ways. “They use email, the teachers’ websites and even Facebook and Twitter,” Smith said. Smith said parents have also found it increasingly difficult in recent years to come in on a specific day. She also said parents have played a large role in education.Though Smith acknowledges that parent-teacher interaction could drop, she said she believes it won’t.“Our teachers are very committed to helping students and parents in every way,” she said. — Stephen Kroll
(11/15/13 2:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz walked out early during a State Board of Education meeting Wednesday. Ritz has since issued a press release calling out Gov. Mike Pence for interfering with Indiana education issues, namely through the creation of his Center for Education and Career Innovation. “Governor Pence, through his newly created education agency, is undermining the exceptional work done every day by the Department of Education,” Ritz said in a press release from the Indiana Department of Education. “As you are all now aware, this is causing unnecessary conflict in education, which does nothing to serve Indiana’s children.”Ritz ended the meeting when a resolution written by CECI staff was brought before the board, which would allow CECI staff to oversee the academic standards review process, according to the release.“The process of evaluating academic standards is the responsibility of the Department of Education,” Ritz said. “After that review, the academic standards go to the Education Roundtable and finally to the State Board for adoption. The resolution was ruled improper because it used CECI staff in a manner that violates Indiana law.”Pence also released an opinion piece expressing his support of the CECI, which hopes to help students more effectively transition from high school to higher education and the workforce. “CECI consolidates the education and workforce responsibilities of the governor in a way that removes barriers that exist for our students, workers and employers,” Pence said in the piece. “It does so without taking any authority away from the Department of Education.”Pence also noted the tension between his department and Ritz. “Education in Indiana is a shared responsibility,” he said. “I take my responsibility to continue the progress we have made in our schools very seriously, but I do regret that the Department of Education and the superintendent have misunderstood my sincere desire to work with them on behalf of all the children of Indiana.”— Sydney Murray
(11/14/13 4:25am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Though the Monroe County Community School Corporation is not a rural district, MCCSC experiences challenges in teaching students in rural areas.According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 23 percent of United States students attend rural schools. Rural areas, defined generally as five miles or farther from an urbanized area, face difficulties in getting resources to students.While at the Ohio Department of Education Rural Education National Forum on Oct. 31, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said he wants to make sure rural education is not falling behind the rest of the country.“Too often the challenges of rural education are neglected,” Duncan said.MCCSC Director of Secondary Education Janice Bergeson said MCCSC serves a portion of students that live in rural areas and faces issues associated with rural education.She noted Unionville Elementary School as one of the more rural schools, located off of State Road 45. “We do have some more rural schools, and they do have specific challenges,” Bergeson said.Duncan said there are many issues associated with educating students in places far away from cities and their networks of technology and manpower.A large hurdle rural education must jump is access to the Internet, vital today for off-site access to knowledge. “A high-speed Internet connection can enable rural students to take online courses and gain access to cutting-edge research at universities,” Duncan said.Bergeson said MCCSC has stressed Internet connection for all its students.“We know they need access to the Internet, so we’ve focused on that,” Bergeson said. “Even our outlying schools have some ability. It’s not perfect, but it’s there.”Bergeson said MCCSC serves a sizeable portion of outlying students, and getting them all to school can be a hassle.“It can take up to an hour to get some kids into town,” she said. “Last year we did a study to map over 300 square miles and make routes more efficient. It’s outrageous how many miles our buses travel in a day.”Duncan said he remains hopeful for rural education in the U.S.“Our progress over the last four years and the outstanding examples of innovation and capacity-building that I see here today tells me that the narrative of rural education is being rewritten, even as we speak,” he said. Bergeson said MCCSC has to face rural education challenges no matter how much the U.S. has improved.“We can’t really change rural education,” she said. “You can’t change where people live. You just have to deal with it.”Follow reporterStephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(11/13/13 4:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Community members discussed the possibility of a new charter school in Bloomington Tuesday night. Presentations were given at the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship to help people understand charter schools and how they will affect the Monroe County Community School Corporation. Former MCCSC school board member Valerie Merriam and IU Associate Professor and Attorney Suzanne Eckes presented information.Charter schools are public schools with more freedom to experiment, Eckes said. In return, they are held accountable for achievement.There are currently 71 charter schools in Indiana, and most are located in Indianapolis and Gary, Eckes said.“They receive high praise in some states, and in some states they’ve been shut down,” Eckes said. “Some do an excellent job, and some should have been shut down yesterday.”Eckes said according to a study, charter schools are generally more segregated than traditional public schools. This segregation is apparent in niche charter schools, which focus on a particular population of students. Examples of niche charter schools are ones who serve special needs students or gifted and talented students, Eckes said.Eckes also said many charter schools have a Christian emphasis.They are often accused of blurring the line between the church and state entanglement, Eckes said. “Absolutely there are simple things that could be done to assist with improving traditional public schools and keep them (students) within the school systems,” Eckes said. Merriam discussed the problems she saw at the Green Meadows Charter School public hearing and her discussion with Robert Marra, executive director of the Office of Charter Schools for Ball State University.Merriam said she noticed a lack of diversity in the audience, and she said she thought the avid individuals talking about the Charter did not let the public know they were connected with it, which was misleading, she said.“I was concerned with what I was hearing in the meeting and what I was reading,” Merriam said.First, the proposed school location was out of city limits, which means the city bus could not reach there, and she said did not have faith in a carpool system. Merriam said she lined up what Green Meadows Charter School proposed to do and what MCCSC already does. She said MCCSC does so much of what Green Meadows Charter School wants to do and more.“We don’t need duplication when there’s already limited resources,” Merriam said.The monies MCCSC will lose if another charter school comes will not only offset programs for the MCCSC children, but ultimately the students who come from the other schools and join MCCSC in middle school or high school, Merriam said.Merriam said Green Meadows Charter School will focus on sustainability and the arts, which are focuses already in place in MCCSC.“This would dilute or destroy some of our most successful programs,” Merriam said.After the presentation, people in attendance were invited join MCCSC board members at tables to further discuss charter schools. “What is so different or spectacular about this charter application?” Merriam said. “Does it really warrant the adverse effects it would have on the MCCSC curriculum?”Follow reporter Mary Hauber on Twitter @mary_hauber.
(11/11/13 4:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Marion County Judge Louis Rosenberg threw out Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz’s lawsuit against the State Board of Education on Friday. Ritz filed the lawsuit Oct. 22 after members of the State Board of Education sent a letter to President Pro Tempore of the Indiana Senate David Long, R-Fort Wayne, and House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, asking that the Legislative Services Agency assist in calculating and publishing 2012-13 A through F grades for Indiana schools. Ritz argued they were in violation of Indiana’s Open Door Law for meeting without informing the public or her.Judge Rosenberg upheld Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s motion to strike the appearance of Superintendent Ritz’s counsel and complaint in the Ritz v. Elsener lawsuit. According to Marion Circuit Court records, Rosenberg’s ruling does not discuss the merits of Ritz’s argument but the way it was filed.The ruling is based on the fact that only the attorney general is allowed to represent Ritz in court. According to Rosenberg’s ruling, this would mean Zoeller would have to represent both sides, which the court ruling determined could prompt ethical concerns under Rule 1.7 of the State Rules of Professional Conduct.“The reason you don’t see one arm of state government’s executive branch sue another is because the statute and case law make it the Attorney General’s responsibility to represent state agencies in court and harmonize their conflicting legal positions, and the judicial branch was not meant to oversee internal conflicts within the executive branch,” Zoeller said in a statement. Because Zoeller and his deputies are the only attorneys allowed on record, the lawsuit will be dismissed. It is possible that a new action could be filed under the attorney general. He could also advise the sides to reach an out-of-court settlement. “Now that this question is behind us, we encourage everyone to work to resolve their disputes in a way that respects one another and the state we all serve,” Zoeller said.Ritz said she was disappointed in the ruling and was concerned for Hoosiers who have had their lives affected by unelected boards. “All commissions and boards use them, and action should always be taken in a public way, and I stand by that,” Ritz said. Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter at @stephenkroll1.
(11/08/13 3:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Middle school students will start enrolling for high school in January.A new aspect students will have to consider at Monroe County Community Schools is which high school they’d like to attend.MCCSC officials said they want students to understand they have many options going into high school next year. “The opportunities that abound in our schools are unparalleled and empower students to meet the demands of an ever-changing, technology-rich workforce,” Superintendent Judith DeMuth said in a statement. While students are still filtered to Bloomington North or South, they can also attend the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship, Hoosier Hills Career Center or the Bloomington Graduation School.Director of Secondary Education Janice Bergeson said that while students have options when choosing high schools, it is not a free-for-all.“It’s the same program that it’s always been,” Bergeson said. “You can’t just go wherever you want.”Students cannot change which high school they are designated. However, they do have other options.“Students from Jackson Creek can go to South or Academy, while those from Tri-North go to North or Academy,” Bergeson said. “Batchelor is split about half and half.”The Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship is the new manifestation of New Tech High School, focused on technology learning and career readiness. It features four career pathways: information technology; business and entrepreneurship; science, technology, engineering and mathematics and biotechnology.“This is the first year with the focus on the four career pathways,” Bergeson said. “We have a freshman class of about 20 and are hoping to grow it next year.”The Hoosier Hills Career Center is based in an auxiliary building of Bloomington North and offers courses in career development, mostly in hands-on skill classes. Students attend their regular high school for half a day, and the career center for half a day. The Bloomington Graduation School is focused on students who have overcome extraordinary challenges and are determined to graduate. DeMuth said students have many ways to approach high school.“I encourage our parents and students to research, read and explore the strengths of each of our campuses,” DeMuth said. “Each family and student can choose their high school experience and shape their future.”Bergeson said she wants students to know the possibilities.“We just want to make sure students know all of their options,” she said.Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(11/06/13 3:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>State education officials are currently deciding on a new grading system for Indiana schools for the third year in a row.After being approved by the bipartisan Accountability System Review Panel last week, an updated grading system formula for public schools will be voted on by the State Board of Education this Friday.The proposed system consists of using a 100-point scale to grade schools based on how well their students perform on standardized tests as well as provide an increased emphasis on graduation, college and career preparation.A report from the Accountability System released last month listed recommendations for the new system that included, “The grading scale for the A-F system, currently a 4-point scale, will be changed to a 100-point scale, the accountability system model will have different frameworks for grades 1-8 and grades 9-12 and, as required under state law, the performance of a school’s students on the ISTEP program test and other assessments recommended by the Education Roundtable and approved by the State Board are the primary and majority means of assessing a school’s improvement.”The state’s current A-F grading system has received widespread controversy during the last two years since it was passed by former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett in 2011. The Associated Press reported earlier this year Bennett altered the grade of an Indianapolis charter school to benefit one of his top campaign donors.Glenda Ritz, Indiana’s current Superintendent of Public Instruction, had campaigned against Bennett’s grading system after defeating him in November 2012.“I believe in a strong accountability system that is accurate, transparent and drives school improvement,” Ritz said in a statement. Ritz filed a lawsuit last month claiming the State Board of Education violated state law by privately asking lawmakers to have legislative analysts calculate grade ratings for schools instead of the Department of Education.The lawsuit alleges that 10 members of the Board violated Indiana’s Open Door Law when they conducted a private meeting and drafted a letter dated Oct. 16, 2013, to Senate President Pro Tempore David Long and House Speaker Brian Bosma requesting the Legislative Services Agency determine the grades for the 2012-2013 school year.In conjunction with Ritz’s lawsuit, Gov. Mike Pence issued a statement saying, “Governor Pence strongly supports the actions taken by the bipartisan membership of the State Board of Education to ensure the timely completion of last year’s A-F school accountability grades. The Governor is confident that all relevant Indiana laws were followed.”House Democratic Leader Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, said the easiest solution would be for Indiana to strip its system of using letter grades to rate schools.“The fact is people will never fully trust grades doled out by politicians for political purposes,” Pelath said in a statement. “The grades are for rewarding friends and punishing the weak. That’s why some communities in Indiana are pledging to ignore them altogether.”Follow reporter Brett Frieman on Twitter @brttfrmn.
(11/05/13 4:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Gov. Mike Pence announced Friday more than $9 million in grants will be distributed to Indiana schools to increase security.The program will provide matching grants to school corporations, charter schools or coalitions of school corporations to employ a school resource officer, conduct a threat assessment and purchase equipment according to a press release from Pence’s office.Entities with an average daily membership of at least 1,000 students applied for grants up to $50,000, and entities with less than 1,000 students applied for grants up to $35,000 per year.“The safety of the students, teachers and administrators in our schools is of the utmost importance to the people of Indiana, and I count it a privilege to distribute these resources to schools across our state,” Pence said in the release.The Monroe County Community School Corporation received $30,940 to employ a school resource officer, and the Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation, also in Monroe County, received $50,000 to employ a school resource officer.— Matt Stefanski
(11/05/13 4:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Batchelor Middle School in Bloomington was host to a group of students from across the Atlantic this past week.Eleven students and two teachers from Bourne Community College in Southbourne, England, spent the last week with students from Batchelor, learning about the United States from inside and outside the classroom.The students came over as part of an ongoing exchange program with Batchelor’s Video Production teacher Jeffrey Rudkin.“It’s not really a true exchange,” Rudkin said. “It started four years ago with a grant from IU for a union between English and U.S. schools. It started with blogging and Skyping.”The grant ran out, but the classes stayed connected. They Skyped once a week, maintaining the connection.“The ultimate goal was to swap students,” Rudkin said.So in June, Rudkin and 10 students went over to England. They accompanied their English counterparts to class, toured London and participated in various activities.In October, it was England’s turn.“It’s more like an extended class field trip,” Rudkin said.Batchelor Principal Eric Gilpin said the 11 students stayed with host families from Rudkin’s class. They spent the week getting a feel for American life, in school and around the area.“The students have looked forward to trick-or-treating, though unfortunately it doesn’t look like we can do that,” Gilpin said. “The other thing they all wanted to do is see Walmart.”The students’ arrival Oct. 26 was marked with a cookout and pumpkin carving. They took a trip to Indianapolis, played laser tag, learned American football and ate at Mother Bear’s Pizza.Rudkin said the goal of the program is to teach students about different cultures. “We wanted to show them what being a kid in a different place was like, to teach respect and understanding,” he said.The students helped Rudkin’s class with their Batchelor television project. Rudkin’s class has made documentaries and various multimedia projects, and the English students have helped co-produce them.“The kids helped produce our weekly BTV broadcast on Friday,” he said. “They’re looking into starting a film class like ours at their school.”Gilpin said Batchelor is already looking to expand the program.“We are already looking to do this again with them in two years,” Gilpin said. “We also might try it with a new school we are Skyping in New Zealand.”Rudkin said the communication possibilities are amazing.“What was really cool was we had our first Skype on Tuesday with New Zealand,” he said. “The students from England were there, too, so we had three different countries communicating all at once.”Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.
(11/04/13 2:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Monroe County Community School Corporation released Spring 2013’s test scores in its fall newsletter, showing its ISTEP, SAT, ACT and Advance Placement scores are all above the state averages.“We have more students than ever before taking AP courses, the SAT and ACT, and passing Advanced Placement Exams,” Superintendent Judith DeMuth said in the newsletter. “Our SAT and ACT exam results also demonstrated that our students are increasingly ready to enter and learn on a college level and well-poised to pursue careers.”Compared to 73.5 percent for all of Indiana, 77.3 percent of MCCSC students passed the ISTEP this year. SAT scores showed that MCCSC is well above the state and national averages in critical reading, math and writing, with average scores of 550, 553 and 529 respectively. The national averages are 496, 514 and 488. ACT scores show marked improvement for MCCSC in all categories. Advanced placement students with scores of three or above are at 64 percent for MCCSC, above the state average of 50 percent and the national average of 61 percent. Janice Bergeson, director of secondary education at MCCSC, said the scores are what MCCSC likes to see.“Across the board our scores are up, and ISTEP levels are holding strong,” Bergeson said. “We’re very impressed that our ACT scores show 89 percent of our students who took the test are ready for college.”However, she also said the scores alone aren’t the most important information.“Scores are what they are, and we’re happy to get the data,” she said. “But the real value is when we can break down the data to particular students and standards and assess from that level.”Bergeson said MCCSC’s objective is to use these scores to give students who need help the additional time they need.“We want to focus on each child, which is possible with technology now,” she said.MCCSC is proud of the graduating students who have strong scores across the board.“MCCSC students are learning and being challenged at deeper levels,” DeMuth said. “Despite the challenges experienced during ISTEP testing last spring, our students maintained a consistent level of achievement in all academic areas.”Bergeson stressed growth is the goal.“This past year was great, but scores can be anomalies both ways,” she said. “Data is data, and stats are stats. You have to be prepared for laggings. Hopefully this growth wasn’t just a blip, and it’ll keep growing. But we are always striving to improve.”Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.