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Indiana Blog

Creating career pathways and raising pay for top teachers should be priorities

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Posted by Stand for Children Indiana on January 7, 2015

Stand for Children Indiana is hoping state legislators focus time and energy this session on the most critical component of student success—teacher quality.

Stand Indiana will support legislation that extends the reach of Indiana’s highest-quality teachers, while providing them with more pay and additional leadership opportunities in our schools. Key components of the potential legislation include providing grant funding to school districts to help them establish career pathways for teachers and incentivizing more teamwork and collaboration within the teaching ranks.

Graduates focus on the future in their speeches

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Posted by Stand for Children Leadership Center Indiana on December 23, 2014

Fifty-three Stand University for Parents (Stand UP) participants were eligible for a graduation ceremony at Crispus Attucks December 20.   The moving ceremony included laughter and a lot of tears.   Here are the speeches written and delivered by just a few of the graduates.

Jonathan Baker, Stand UP Graduate, IPS School 88 

IPS parents receive the gift of empowerment this holiday season

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Posted by Stand for Children Leadership Center Indiana on December 19, 2014

The largest Stand University for Parents (Stand UP) class yet is scheduled to graduate this Saturday morning at Crispus Attucks.  Fifty-three IPS parents, grandparents and adult siblings completed six weeks of courses to learn how to better support the academic success of the children in their lives and build meaningful partnerships with their child’s school leaders. 

Graduates will share their stories of how the program has empowered them to change their own lives, as well as make changes to support all IPS students. 

Deadline looms for pre-k pilot program

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Posted by Stand for Children Indiana on December 15, 2014

Residents in four pilot counties are facing a looming deadline if they want their children to participate in a free pre-kindergarten program. Those who live in Marion, Allen, Lake and Vanderburgh counties and want to take part must have their applications received by today, December 15.

City leaders should be applauded for investing in quality preschool

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Posted by Stand for Children Indiana on December 1, 2014

Tonight’s vote by the Indianapolis City-County Council to give the city’s most at-risk kids access to early education is a great show of bipartisanship that should be applauded, according to leaders from Stand for Children Indiana.

The council voted 19-8 to approve a $40 million investment to expand preschool access to as many as 1,300 low-income children starting in 2016. The compromise plan was shaped by Democratic council leadership, working with Mayor Greg Ballard’s administration.

New IPS Board Members Host Listening Sessions

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Posted by Stand for Children Indiana on December 1, 2014

The first of three community input sessions with newly-elected IPS Board members will be held tonight.   Mary Ann Sullivan, Kelly Bentley and LaNier Echols will each hold a meeting to answer questions about the future of the school district and to listen to ideas from the public about the direction the board should take.  The three were elected in November and will take office in January.

At-Large Incoming Board Member Mary Ann Sullivan hosts the first session tonight at 5 p.m. at Indy Reads, which is located at 911 Massachusetts Ave. 

Rally to expand preschool access in Indy

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Posted by Stand for Children Indiana on November 26, 2014

A plan to expand preschool access faces a critical test on December 1.   The full Indianapolis City-County Council is expected to take a vote on the compromise $40 million plan when it meets at 7 p.m. that night.   The proposal would provide pre-k access to more than 1,000 low-income preschoolers each year.  

Lessons learned from recent IPS changes

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Posted by Justin Ohlemiller, Executive Director, Stand Indiana on November 21, 2014

After any major project or decision, it’s always a good idea for organizations to step back and assess what went well and what didn’t. After the Shortridge/Gambold move that was approved this week by the IPS board, I hope the district is taking time to do this sort of self-reflection and establish some of the lessons that were learned.

After attending the IPS board meeting on Tuesday, there were a lot of positive takeaways that I noted, but also some key areas where improvement is needed.

Stand Indiana praises committee for preschool progress

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Posted by Stand for Children Indiana on November 12, 2014

Stand Indiana is hopeful that the full Indianapolis City-County Council will vote December 1 to approve a $40 million plan to expand preschool access to the city’s neediest children.

A bipartisan committee approved the compromise plan last night.  It would provide high-quality preschool for as many as 1,300 children starting in 2016. 

Election signals new day in IPS

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Posted by Stand for Children Indiana on November 5, 2014

It’s a new day for IPS after voters indicated that they want to see significant improvements in the city’s largest school district.

At-Large candidate Mary Ann Sullivan and district candidates Kelly Bentley and LaNier Echols all successfully defeated incumbents to win seats on the IPS School Board. The three were endorsed by Stand for Children Indiana’s parent members and supported by an independent campaign run by Stand’s advocacy organization.  

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