Governor Holcomb announced his appointments for two new positions Thursday. He’s picked his senior education advisor, Dr. Katie Jenner, to serve as Indiana’s first secretary of education. She replaces State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick, after the elected office was changed to an appointed position.
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Making sure schools are fully funded, even if they offer virtual learning, is the goal of a new recommendation from Governor Holcomb and legislative leaders. Back in June, the governor said he’d endorsed a plan to continue to fund students at 100 percent, if they’re out of the classroom due to COVID-19.
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As schools consider how to handle potential COVID-19 cases, their staff members may be called upon to help with contact tracing. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick said last week that parents have been hesitant to verify their children’s identities and personal information with state contact tracers and have been calling schools instead.
Continue readingWhether or not standardized testing will proceed as usual this school year still remains to be seen. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick says it’s ultimately up to the federal government, state lawmakers, or an executive order from Governor Holcomb, to provide the necessary waivers.
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Governor Holcomb still isn’t recommending a switch to no-excuse mail-in voting for the General Election. But he says fears about voter fraud are not part of his thought process, and neither is President Trump.
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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick is acknowledging school officials’ desire for more COVID-19 guidance but says she’s simply following the advice of medical professionals. McCormick addressed the question of whether or not schools should be open, during a virtual media briefing Thursday.
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Educators and health officials continue working on the “new normal” for Indiana’s schools. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says they’re having to think outside the box to keep students, teachers, and staff safe.
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Indiana’s K-through-12 schools will likely be spared from the state’s COVID-19 budget cuts. Governor Eric Holcomb is recommending moving ahead with the current K-through-12 budget, including planned increases.
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The Indiana Department of Education recognized all Indiana teachers as the 2021 Teacher of the Year.
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Indiana’s schools will remain closed until the end of the school year. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick made the announcement during a press conference Thursday.
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Indiana continues to see new COVID-19 cases, as testing increases. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box says the number of people tested has increased from fewer than 300 a week ago to more than 3,300 on Wednesday, with about 14 percent of those tests coming back positive.
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Low ILEARN scores are drawing concerns from state officials. The Indiana Department of Education says that across the state, the 2019 ILEARN showed a drop in achievement levels, compared to the old ISTEP test.
Continue readingThose thinking about becoming a teacher are now getting some extra encouragement from the Indiana Department of Education. This week, the department announced the launch of a teacher recruitment and retention campaign. At the heart of that are two new websites designed “to promote positive educational resources and interactions,” according to department officials.
On Wednesday, the Indiana State Board of Education(SBOE) approved several new graduation pathways for Hoosier high school students beginning with the 2019 freshman class.
Though these changes have been a topic of contention lately, the Board states that they were designed to give all students the skills and experiences they will need to take the next step in their educational journeys and to secure good jobs. Continue reading
