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Indiana Blog

New Standards Reflect Work of Hundreds of Hoosier Educators

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Posted by Justin Ohlemiller, Executive Director, Stand for Children Indiana on April 15, 2014

The latest draft Indiana education standards released today were vetted by hundreds of Hoosier teachers who worked countless hours and took their task very seriously. The process included input from school corporations throughout the state and Indiana’s colleges and universities, which understand that nearly 40 percent of college freshmen in Indiana are unprepared and require remediation.  Stand for Children Indiana thanks the educators involved, the State Board of Education and the Indiana Department of Education for their work. 

Shepherd tapped to oversee communications for Stand for Children Indiana

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Posted by Stand for Children Indiana on March 24, 2014

Stand for Children Indiana welcomes communications veteran Kate Shepherd as the organization’s Marketing and Communications Manager. Shepherd will coordinate media relations, brand management and social media activities.    

Shepherd most recently held the position of Marketing Director at Indianapolis law firm Plews Shadley Racher & Braun LLP.  She has also served as the Director of Communications and Marketing at Planned Parenthood of Indiana and as the Director of Communications for then-Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita.  

2014 Legislative Wrap-Up: Raising the bar for IPS and teacher quality

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Posted by Stand for Children Indiana on March 20, 2014

From providing Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) with more tools to transform low-performing schools to raising the bar for our state’s teacher preparation programs, much was accomplished this legislative session to help ensure greater access to a quality education for all Hoosier children. 

Stand for Children Indiana was able to work alongside our partners to ensure the following high-priority education measures reach the desk of Governor Pence:

General Assembly votes to raise the bar for Hoosiers applying to teacher prep programs

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Posted by Stand for Children Indiana on March 20, 2014

This week, we applauded the Indiana General Assembly’s passage of a measure backed by the organization that would raise the bar for entry into Indiana’s colleges of education and increase accountability for Hoosier teacher preparation programs. 

Landmark bill provides IPS with tools to grow high-performing schools, improve outcomes for kids

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Posted by Stand for Children Indiana on March 19, 2014

A measure that gives the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) Board of Commissioners unprecedented flexibility to replicate great schools and forge innovative partnerships is now in the hands of the governor.

Initially dubbed the “Innovation Network Schools” bill, HEA 1321,  provides IPS with options to contract with school management teams to help turn around chronically low-performing schools or open new high-quality schools in vacant or underutilized buildings.

Staffing decisions made by IPS put kids first

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Posted by Justin Ohlemiller on February 26, 2014

Any time people lose their jobs, it’s a difficult situation. The principals and administrators who were affected by the IPS School Board’s decision last night should be thanked for their service and commitment to the district.

It’s tough decisions like this, however, that have to be made to increase the level of student success in IPS. Superintendent Dr. Lewis Ferebee and the board showed leadership last night by taking another step that prioritizes student success in the classroom.

Innovative Schools Will Thrive in Indianapolis

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Posted by Stand for Children on January 23, 2014

We’re excited to share that House Bill 1321, which would allow Indianapolis Public Schools to create a portfolio of innovative schools, has passed in the House Committee!

Poll Shows Strong Bi-partisan Support for Common Core

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Posted by jkenworthy@stand.org on September 30, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS – With the final of three legislative study committee hearings on Common Core (CCSS) scheduled for a Tuesday, a new poll from a prominent Republican pollster shows a solid majority of Hoosiers support the standards, and nearly 8 in 10 voters say they don’t think less of legislators who support Common Core.

Public Opinion Strategies, a firm that has polled for many GOP congressmen, mayors, and the State Republican Party, completed this new public opinion poll on Common Core last week. Among the key findings:

Victory!

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Posted by jkenworthy@stand.org on September 25, 2013

You might not have heard about it, but last night students in IPS Schools 99 and 88 – two schools that have seen massive increases in ISTEP+ scores – won an important victory for their future, and we witnessed the start of what could be a new era of freedom in Indianapolis education.

Report Vindicates A-F School Grading

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Posted by jkenworthy@stand.org on September 6, 2013

INDIANAPOLIS – Stand for Children Executive Director Justin Ohlemiller issued the following statement on the release of the third-party report on the A-F grading scale.

“Today’s report shows that our current A-F system, while imperfect, is still an effective tool in assessing whether our schools are meeting their most important obligation – ensuring  high student achievement.

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