Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Lewis Ferebee

Indiana
18 hours ago

What it could mean for Indianapolis Public Schools if Ferebee is looking at new jobs

Although Ferebee has withdrawn his name from contention in Los Angeles, he still could be an option for other districts.
Indiana
2 days ago

Indianapolis Public Schools’ Lewis Ferebee is a finalist to lead Los Angeles schools

The Los Angeles Times reported Monday that Ferebee is among the finalists to lead the nation's second-largest school district.
Indiana
March 8, 2018

Walton gives Indianapolis Public Schools $1.7 million to increase principal power

The foundation is known for offering startup grants for charter.
Indiana
March 6, 2018

Indianapolis Public Schools didn’t follow the playbook on its big tax request. Now it’s playing catch-up.

District officials said backpedaling on the referendums showed responsiveness to community concerns.

breaking

Indiana
March 5, 2018

Indianapolis Public Schools suspends $725 million tax hike plan after business leaders’ criticism

The Indianapolis Public Schools board voted 6-0 to withdraw the proposal.
Indiana
February 28, 2018

Will Indianapolis change its magnet admission rules to keep siblings together?

In the long-term, the change could come with a steep price tag.
Indiana
February 20, 2018

Teacher raises would survive $211 million cut from Indianapolis Public Schools funding request

The scaled-back request would raise about $725 million over eight years.
Indiana
February 16, 2018

Indianapolis struggles to balance how much money schools need with what people will pay

Without that extra money, Superintendent Lewis Ferebee said, the district would have to burn through its savings or make vast cuts.
Indiana
January 25, 2018

Schools could get different amounts of money as Indianapolis tweaks its funding plan

It’s the second year budgets will be crafted using a new approach that is supposed to tie funding to student needs instead of the programs schools offer.
Indiana
January 9, 2018

Inner circle: Here is the team helping Ferebee chart a new course for Indianapolis schools

As 2018 begins, the district is at a watershed moment.
Indiana
January 8, 2018

New board president wants a ‘world-class education’ for every student in Indianapolis Public Schools

School board member Michael O’Connor was unanimously selected Monday to serve as president for 2018.

shortlist

New York
December 21, 2017

To succeed Carmen Fariña, her adversary Eva Moskowitz nominates 14 education leaders from across America

Moskowitz noted that not all of her nominees are charter school supporters.

inside the playbook

National
December 6, 2017

A ‘portfolio’ of schools? How a nationwide effort to disrupt urban school districts is gaining traction

From Atlanta to Cincinnati to Oakland, a loosely connected network of nonprofit groups is working to reshape the way their school districts function.
Indiana
November 2, 2017

Choice is shaping IPS, as thousands of families enroll their children in private, charter and township schools

Last year, about 16,172 students who lived within IPS boundaries attended charter schools, traditional public schools in other districts or private schools with vouchers.
Indiana
September 27, 2017

Test scores jumped in innovation schools, but IPS leaders aren’t declaring victory just yet.

Of the eight innovation schools that took the ISTEP test last spring, seven had higher passing rates on both the math and English tests than in the previous year.
Indiana
July 31, 2017

High fives and storytime welcome students back at two Indianapolis Public Schools

The crowd shouted encouragement to the students – “4.0! 4.0 this year!” one man chanted.
Indiana
May 15, 2017

As Indianapolis leaders choose which high schools to close, some campuses are in more danger than others.

The district has outlined an expansive list of criteria to determine the fate of its high schools.
Indiana
March 2, 2017

Indianapolis Public Schools is closing high schools. Here are the biggest questions facing district leaders.

The district expects to have more than twice as many high school seats as students by next fall.
Indiana
December 13, 2016

A-F grades are lower across Indiana. Here’s why IPS isn’t sweating its Fs

The days when the state would take over failing Indianapolis Public Schools appear to be over — at least for the foreseeable future.

Testing

Indiana
November 21, 2016

Why the IPS superintendent isn’t worried that test scores are down

Indiana has gone through so much turmoil in recent years that Ferebee says the scores cannot be compared from one year to the next.

Testing

Indiana
October 19, 2016

Tired of waiting on state for test results, IPS considers giving students a new exam

Students in the Indianapolis Public Schools might soon have to take yet another exam. District leaders are so tired of the wait for state test…

Election 2016

Indiana
October 6, 2016

IPS board members reject pointed critiques from challengers seeking to unseat them

There’s a lot at stake for Indianapolis as voters go to the polls Nov. 8 to choose who should run the city’s schools so Wednesday’s discussion was a lively one.

A school reborn

Indiana
August 31, 2016

The long road to a new site ends in song and inspiration at Edison School for the Arts

Tuesday’s coming out party for Edison, which began classes at its new location with the start of school earlier this month, was the final step in a sometimes painful process of reorganizing the arts magnet programs at Indianapolis Public Schools.

The replacements

Indiana
June 2, 2016

How Indianapolis Public Schools nearly eliminated its substitute crisis overnight

The new approach doubled substitute fill rates but there's a price tag.

money matters

Indiana
May 18, 2016

Which schools get the most money? Indianapolis Public Schools analysis reveals how schools compare

District leaders are aiming to switch to a more transparent and equitable funding model.
Indiana
March 17, 2016

Indianapolis Public Schools adds schools to ‘innovation’ program, reshaping district

In dramatic shift away from traditional centralized district, more than 10 percent of IPS students soon will attend schools outside of district control.
Indiana
March 17, 2016

Indianapolis Public Schools adds schools to ‘innovation’ program, reshaping district

In dramatic shift away from traditional centralized district, more than 10 percent of IPS students soon will attend schools outside of district control.
Indiana
January 25, 2016

Bill to loosen union control of teacher pay moves ahead

Democrats on the House Education Committee and ISTA officials opposed the bill.
Indiana
January 18, 2016

The basics of Lewis Ferebee: An IPS superintendent pushing hard for change

In some ways, the he has defied expectations after a career working in traditional school systems.
Indiana
January 4, 2016

5 bold predictions for the new year for ISTEP, teachers, Pence, Ritz and IPS

Ferebee is in demand, Ritz and Pence have political challenges and ISTEP could die in 2016.
Indiana
December 22, 2015

Part of Ferebee's bonus, like teacher raises, is in limbo because of ISTEP delay

The IPS superintendent received mostly good marks in the school board's review to determine his bonus.
Indiana
December 17, 2015

Ferebee gets a $21,000 bonus from IPS board, but faces some criticism (updated)

Ferebee will receive a $21,000 bonus from the district for meeting performance goals, 84 percent of the $25,000 he’s eligible for under his contract.
Indiana
December 15, 2015

IPS survey finds administrators and principals back changes but say they may be coming too fast

A consultant counted 60 new initiatives underway districtwide

autonomy

Indiana
December 10, 2015

Rich school, poor school: IPS push to even out funding could bring big changes

A new budgeting system designed to increase equity and autonomy could put pressure on schools with experienced teachers.
Indiana
December 2, 2015

State board OK with IPS promises that Arlington High School is on the mend

Ferebee said challenges still exist, mainly in relationship-building between teachers and students, filling teaching positions and getting a handle on instruction.
Indiana
November 23, 2015

Shortridge High School’s Melody Coryell wins $25,000 teaching award

Melody Coryell was the only Indiana teacher to win a $25,000 Milken Educator Award in 2015.
Indiana
November 9, 2015

IPS board votes to approve new Center for Inquiry school, move for arts magnet

A new CFI school will open in the School 70 building, and the arts elementary school currently there will move to the Key Learning Community School next fall.
Indiana
October 27, 2015

IPS delays move of arts program after call for 30-day waiting period

A board member called for a 30-day waiting period before IPS takes actions to make major changes to schools in the wake of a plan to move an arts magnet program.
Indiana
October 19, 2015

IPS board to consider closing Key Learning Community among school shifts

Key Learning Academy, a Indianapolis school world-famous as the first built on a modern psychological theory of Multiple Intelligences, seems poised to meet its end.
Indiana
October 13, 2015

Fast-growing religious alternative schools hit a speed bump with IPS

The Crossing is a network of 28 accredited private Christian schools that cater specifically to students who struggled at other schools, were expelled or dropped out.
Indiana
October 6, 2015

In one month, mayoral race could take education in a new direction

The 2015 mayoral election, coming fast just a month from today, is a departure after 12 years in that neither candidate is a slam-dunk to continue on the same path.
Indiana
September 22, 2015

IPS might outsource athletic director job and oversight of sports programs

IPS is considering outsourcing the role of district athletic director to a nonprofit group run by the former head of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission.
Indiana
September 16, 2015

IPS will free up schools next year with the Mind Trust's help

Superintendent Lewis Ferebee want to give out money in Indianapolis Public Schools based on student needs and let each principal have wide freedom to make decisions.
Indiana
August 25, 2015

IPS board gives blessing to house Global Prep charter school

Superintendent Lewis Ferebee got the go-ahead from the school board to negotiate a deal with charter school developer Mariama Carson to put the school in an IPS building.
Indiana
August 24, 2015

IPS neighborhood schools dominate lowest test-scorers

Of the 15 F-rated IPS in 2013-14, all but two also rated an F the year before. All of the 10 lowest scoring schools are neighborhood schools. None are magnet schools.
Indiana
August 19, 2015

Would fewer IPS high schools lead to more advanced courses?

As part of a plan to push for more students to take AP courses, school board members Tuesday discussed the idea of fewer high schools with more students in the future.
Indiana
August 13, 2015

Hannon's goal: Help parents make choices and give schools useful data

A unified enrollment system is not a unique idea, but Caitlin Hannon hopes this system will go beyond its primary goal of simply helping match up families with schools.
Indiana
August 10, 2015

Hannon resigns IPS board to take a Mind Trust fellowship

Caitlin Hannon, a former Indianapolis Public Schools teacher who joined the school board in an effort to push for change in the district, has stepped down, but she hopes to return to a key role in education in the city soon.
Indiana
August 4, 2015

IPS, Marian University partnership seeks future school leaders

Indianapolis Public Schools and Marian University hope that by working together they can get more of the city’s best teachers to become school leaders.
Indiana
July 30, 2015

State funding changes could lead IPS to tap rainy day fund

After the board's action, it can now access up to $21 million that previously was off limits.
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