Vouchers, literacy, elections: Indiana training points to observe in 2024

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It might be a brand new yr on the calendar, however January marks the midway level of the varsity yr and the beginning of the legislative session in Indiana. And there’s no scarcity of training information and points to observe.

Right here’s 5 subjects we’re watching in 2024:

How college students be taught to learn

No shock right here, however studying will possible get lots of consideration, similar to in 2023.

Lawmakers handed a brand new state regulation in 2023 that requires faculty districts to undertake a curriculum that’s aligned with the science of studying. The regulation additionally specifies that districts are now not allowed to make use of literacy curriculum that rely totally on the three-cueing mannequin, wherein college students use context clues and photos.

The brand new regulation grew out of considerations held by lawmakers and training officers about college students’ studying means, and our story about what it means for college kids, lecturers and colleges was our most-read story of 2023.

When discussing subsequent yr’s legislative session, lawmakers mentioned they need to proceed to handle literacy by trying into Indiana’s third grade retention legal guidelines for college kids who don’t go the state studying examination, the IREAD-3.

2024 elections function gubernatorial, IPS faculty board races

The brand new yr signifies that it’s a giant election yr — and never simply because there’s a race for the White Home.

Right here in Indiana, there’s an election for governor with no incumbent, since time period limits prohibit Gov. Eric Holcomb from operating once more. There are a number of candidates on the Republican facet and former Indiana Superintendent of Schooling Jennifer McCormick on the Democratic facet.

On the native degree, 4 of the seven seats on the IPS Board of Commissioners are up for election in November, plus there might be faculty board elections throughout the state.

Rebuilding Stronger turns into actuality for IPS

Authorised by the Indianapolis Public Faculties board in fall of 2022, Rebuilding Stronger is the district’s sweeping overhaul that goals to handle urgent challenges of declining enrollment and academic inequities for college kids of coloration.

The Rebuilding Stronger rollout began this faculty yr with the closure of a number of colleges. However the greater piece begins within the 2024-25 faculty yr, when grade reconfigurations on the elementary and center colleges begin, together with expanded tutorial packages and enrollment zones.

The district is working onerous to be sure households know their choices for the approaching yr with an invite for households to “Select your IPS.”

The enrollment interval is underway, and IPS reported in early December that functions had been up from the identical time final yr by about 470 households.

The way forward for previous IPS faculty buildings

Per state regulation, faculty districts should provide closed faculty buildings to constitution colleges to purchase or lease for $1. However the regulation comes with exemptions, together with one added this yr for districts that share funds from voter-approved property tax will increase for working or security bills with an “relevant constitution faculty.”

What that new exemption means is the main focus of a authorized dispute between IPS and the state that may possible proceed into the brand new yr. The end result will decide whether or not the district can promote the buildings or should primarily give them to constitution colleges that might enroll former IPS college students.

IPS filed a lawsuit in August in opposition to Lawyer Normal Todd Rokita and state board of training officers, arguing that the varsity district is exempt from the state regulation. A Marion County choose sided with the district, and Rokita appealed the ruling. Within the meantime, the IPS has paused the sale of closed buildings, however the district plans to lease one of many amenities (which it beforehand voted to promote to a nonprofit) whereas the court docket battle performs out.

Extra college students utilizing vouchers

Earlier this yr, lawmakers expanded the state’s voucher program to make practically all college students eligible to obtain public cash to attend non-public faculty. Indiana was one among a number of Republican-led states to take action just lately.

Roughly 97% of scholars now qualify, and state projections present that participation might enhance by practically 42,000 college students inside two years. And in November, we had our first glimpse into what the participation appears to be like like.

Greater than 69,000 Selection Scholarship functions had been authorized throughout the first spherical of this system for the 2023-24 faculty yr, per the Indiana Division of Schooling. That’s a report quantity. And it’s more likely to rise after the second software interval, which closes in January.

Chalkbeat Indiana reporters Amelia Pak-Harvey and Aleksandra Appleton contributed to this text.

MJ Slaby oversees Chalkbeat Indiana’s protection as bureau chief. She additionally covers entry to increased training and Warren Township Faculties. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.