Statehouse policy and politics

McCormick vowed to fight portrayals of public education as a boogeyman, as Indiana Republicans lean into support for school choice.

Supporters of the statute say it will help students by making sure they learn about a variety of viewpoints. Critics argue it will intimidate professors and make prospective teachers less prepared to run classrooms well.

Purdue Polytechnic High School Lab School offers personalized curriculum to around 20 students while getting support from the charter school network.

There are some exceptions to the cell phone ban, like if a student needs it to manage their health or the device is part of their Individualized Education Program.

Big changes are ahead for schools, including more support for reading, stricter third grade retention rules, and cellphone bans.

House and Senate lawmakers removed a proposal to allow chaplains in public schools, but schools would still be required to release students for off-campus religious instruction.

A bill at the Indiana Statehouse that aims to hold back more students who fail the state’s reading exam, is advancing. Here’s what its impact could be.

A revised bill targeting absenteeism would require schools to prohibit habitually truant students from extracurricular activities, and would also impose a penalty on parents who make unproven allegations against teachers.

One bill has been stripped of language on civics education to instead focus on allowing chaplains in public schools.

Advocates say a bill to retain third graders could violate the civil rights of 93,000 English learners and conflicts with research on how long it takes to learn a language.

Indiana AG said officials must show that materials posted to ‘Eyes on Education’ were not and are not used or shared.

Colleges have pushed back saying it would harm students and educators.

A bill that would have dramatically expanded school choice in the state failed to move forward but will likely return in 2025.

The website includes examples of “inappropriate” lessons or policies in 13 Indiana districts and one university, but districts say those are inaccurate.

But they say more study is needed to find solutions to bring older students back to schools.

The legislation marks the latest effort by state legislators to shape how schools approach topics related to sex and sexuality.

An Indianapolis lawmaker’s bid to increase charter school transparency comes after a federal indictment of former leaders of two virtual schools.

Lawmakers have filed bills on cell phones and other classroom disruptions to deal with teachers’ growing concerns.

One bill would allow public schools could hire chaplains to serve as counselors, while another would require schools to release students for religious instruction at their parents' request.