ISTA 2013 Legislative Recap -- School Performance Awards

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Legislative Recap

Click here for a full recap of the 2013 Legislative Session compiled by the Indiana State Teachers Association.

Includes information on vouchers, charter schools, school funding and finance, school safety, superintendent licensing and more.


School Performance Awards

From ISTA Keep the Promise: Highly Effective/Effective Teacher Bonus Grants

Deemed “School Performance Awards,” the budget bill appropriates $30 million in the 2nd year of the biennium to be distributed based upon graduation rates or 5% improvement in graduation rates, student passage rates on ISTEP and End of Course assessments or 5% growth in these assessment results.

Click HERE for a district-by-district printout of the awards.

Statement of Indiana Department of Education Regarding ISTEP+ Damages

http://www.doe.in.gov/news/statement-indiana-department-education-regarding-istep-damages

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, June 21, 2013
Media Contact:
Daniel Altman, Press Secretary
(317) 232-0550
daltman@doe.in.gov

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Education announced preliminary damages that it will seek from CTB McGraw-Hill related to ISTEP+ interruptions experienced by schools throughout the state this spring. These amounts are not final, and may well grow as results are reviewed by a third party and additional information is gained.

The preliminary damages amount sought will not be less than $613,600 and could reasonably go into the millions. That amount includes $400,000 in liquidated damages provided for in the contract between the Department of Education and CTB. It also includes $53,600 that the Department will spend to have a third party conduct an analysis of the scores of students that had their testing sessions interrupted and at least $160,00 for other related costs associated with enhanced reporting data.

In addition to the preliminary damages, additional damages may be sought after further investigation. Those potential damages include, but are not limited to:

-Reimbursement to Indiana schools for additional costs incurred to administer ISTEP+ during the extended testing window.

-Reimbursement to the Indiana Department of Education for additional costs incurred because of ISTEP+ testing interruptions.

“I have worked closely with CTB throughout the entire ISTEP+ testing process,” said Superintendent Ritz. “The consequences of CTB’s server failures were real and significant for Indiana schools. As Superintendent, I will work to ensure that schools are made whole while continuing to negotiate with CTB in good faith.”

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The Impact of Education Reform: What Next?

Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education

with

Parents Across America

Present

The Impact of Education Reform: What Next?

Join supporters of public education from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio for the second four state conference on organizing to stop the dismantling of public education.

The conference will provide an opportunity to share experiences and strategies with others from your state and from neighboring states. The conference will feature a panel discussion focused on examining the impact of the current reforms. Panelists include

• Vic Smith, Indiana educator and legislative watchdog
• Rob Glass, Superintendent of Bloomfield Hill Schools, Michigan
• Kathy Friend, Chief Financial Officer, Fort Wayne Community Schools, Indiana
• Stephanie Keiles, Teacher/Parent, Plymouth Canton Community Schools, Michigan
• Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer, Parent/Advocate, Chairperson, Indiana Coalition for Public Education--Monroe County and South Central Indiana.

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Event Details

Where:

Plymouth Congregational Church
501 W Berry St.
Fort Wayne, IN 46807

When: Saturday 20 Jul 2013 from 9:45am to 4:00pm (US/Eastern)

Registration Due by: Thursday 18 Jul 2013 12:00pm (US/Eastern)

TO REGISTER AND RESERVE YOUR TICKET CLICK HERE.

Proposed Agenda

9-9:45 Registration, coffee
9:45-10:00 Welcome and Introduction
10:00-10:45 State Groups Meet - Determine common issues
and effective strategies
10:45-11:00 States Groups Share Most Important Issues
11:00-11:15 Break-coffee/restrooms
11:15-12:15 Panel and discussion
12:15-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:00 Small groups focus on specific issues/strategies.
2-2:15 Break
2:15-3:15 Develop common strategies
3:15-4:00 Group action steps and closing

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Additional Information:

Parking: Across from the church on Berry Street; additional handicap parking on west side of church.

Lunch: On your own. Bring your own and continue discussion with other attendees at the church or visit one of the nearby fast food restaurants (Arby's, McDonald's, Taco Bell, Rally's, Wendy's, Subway, Starbucks).

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