Aleksandra Appleton
Reporter, Chalkbeat Indiana
Aleksandra Appleton is a reporter for Chalkbeat Indiana. She previously reported on schools in Las Vegas and Fresno, California, where she grew up. Aleks is a graduate of UC San Diego and the Columbia School of Journalism.
The Republican-dominated Indiana state legislature voted to overturn Gov. Eric Holcomb’s veto of House Enrolled Act 1041, which bans transgender girls from girl’s youth sports.
Whether a student can play a sport, study advanced math, or sing in a choir varies widely by where they attend school, Indianapolis Public School officials said at the latest in a series of meetings that raise the possibility of closing some schools.
As Indiana limits virtual learning, some districts will adjust how they handle school on snow days and on teacher training days.
Education advocates say the proposed middle school civics standards need more specificity, especially in regards to the history of Black Americans and other people of color.
Indiana voters approved seven local property tax increases to send more money to schools, but voted down increases for school construction..
A political newcomer, Andrea Hunley defeated four other Democrats and now goes on to face Republican Evan Shearin in the November general election.
Besides leading Center for Inquiry School 2, IPS principal Andrea Hunley is running for State Senate district 46 in the May 3 primary.
A group of Indiana education leaders is calling for the state to act urgently to address academic disparities for Black students.
School officials hope that Indiana’s low unemployment rate and growing home values will convince voters to pass property tax increases in the May election.
Dubbed enrichment scholarships, Indiana’s voucher-like program will provide each student who qualifies through their score on state tests a $500 grant toward tutoring.
IPS wants to bolster hiring and retention as schools enter their third year of grappling with COVID.
The Indiana Department of Education offered schools the option this year to test second graders on the IREAD-3 in order to identify and help struggling readers earlier.
Indiana schools no longer have to mask, distance or quarantine, something the youngest students and new teachers have never experienced before.
The Indiana legislature didn’t pass restrictions on race and racism or stocking certain material in school libraries, but the bills that did pass are still likely to affect teaching and learning.
A wide-ranging bill to restrict what teachers could say about race and racism died in Indiana despite anticipation that the state would pass it.
Indiana has earmarked millions of federal dollars to train more special education teachers as a shortage looms.
Some Indiana lawmakers signaled their interest in adding back parts of the controversial bill to other pieces of legislation in the final weeks of the session.
The Indiana Senate has killed a bill that sought to restrict how teachers taught race and racism. Senators missed a deadline to move the bill forward.
District officials cite new guidance from the Indiana Department of Health and falling numbers of COVID cases in their decision.
Rep. Bob Behning, who is the chair of Indiana’s House Education Committee, tried to clarify his remarks Thursday after they drew criticism on Twitter.
House Bill 1134 restricts teaching three ideas that Indiana lawmakers describe as “divisive,” a limit that has drawn overwhelming public criticism.
The Republican supermajority in the Indiana legislature has watered down some of the most controversial parts of its divisive concepts bill.
New Indiana Department of Health guidance will no longer require schools to quarantine students who have been exposed to COVID-19 beginning Feb. 23.
Dozens of speakers told Indiana senators Wednesday that no changes could fix House Bill 1134, which bans three “divisive concepts” from the classroom.
Indiana’s House Bill 1134 could be amended to list 3 ‘divisive concepts’ that teachers could not teach and to make curriculum review committees optional for schools.
A Twitter campaign called for The College Board to fire Huston, a top executive, after he voted for an Indiana bill to restrict teaching about race and racism.
The Indiana House and Senate have passed several education-related bills ahead of deadlines. They now go to the other chamber.
IPS wants to bring in Liberty Grove Schools to run School 42 after IPS did not renew a contract with its current operator, Ignite Achievement Academy.
House Bill 1190 received support from public speakers and other lawmakers, though some questioned why it was needed if federal law protected free speech on college campuses.
Educators have criticized the Indiana House bill, arguing that it would effectively silence classroom discussions of racism and history as teachers fear losing their licenses over complaints.