Education

Students from dozens of Indiana high schools competed at the state fairgrounds over the weekend. The event tested their leadership, career and technical skills. 

Cursive writing is back on the discussion table at the statehouse, as one lawmaker continues her nearly decade-long campaign to require Hoosier schools teach cursive writing.

While lawmakers in the Senate decided the fate of several bills Tuesday, a group of public education advocates wearing red gathered downstairs. Teachers unions, the Coalition for Public Education and Indiana PTA helped organize the event as a near-final push for more money in the state budget as the legislative session winds down.

Students start taking Indiana’s new standardized test this month, and officials say the exam should provide better data to teachers and schools about student performance. ILEARN is the new replacement for the ISTEP, and elementary, middle and some high school students will start taking ILEARN as early as next week.

It’s “computer adaptive,” meaning the test adjusts the questions it asks students based on their previous answers.

Spokesman for the State Department of Education Adam Baker says overall, ILEARN will provide better data for teachers and schools, sooner.

Senate Republicans released their budget proposal Thursday, but Democrats say plans to address teacher pay are still lacking.

Some parents of students with disabilities are raising concerns about testing accommodations as the state rolls out its new standardized exam.

Indiana’s teacher salaries have been the slowest growing in the country according to a national think tank, and the state’s teachers union says it will take billions of dollars to make up for years of inadequate funding.