Education

Governor Mike Pence wants a one percent increase for K through 12 school funding in each of the next two years. Schools would have to earn the extra money in the second year.

The governor’s budget includes around 190 million new dollars for K-12 schools.  But Crothersville Democratic Representative Terry Goodin said that’s not enough.

"Our public schools are the number one economic development tool in our state," said Goodin.  "So if that’s the case, we need to fund those economic development tools properly.  One percent’s probably not going to do that."

Indiana’s public universities are at the Statehouse this week to make their cases for increased funding.  

A common theme among the university presidents Wednesday was proving to lawmakers that their school is working to reduce the cost of college for its students.  Acting Purdue president Tim Sands said one of the ways the West Lafayette school aims to accomplish that is creating a more year-round schedule by increasing class offerings in the summer.

Ousted Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett has a new job — Florida Commissioner of Education. Florida's Board of Education voted Wednesday morning to give Bennett the Sunshine State's top appointed education job.

Bennett threw his name into consideration after losing his re-election bid to Democrat Glenda Ritz. He was one of three finalists the Florida State Board of Education interviewed Tuesday in Tampa.

A state panel has voted to make it easier for non-education majors who earn Bachelor’s degrees to get teaching jobs.  That’s one part of a broad package of changes to Indiana’s rules for teacher licensing the State Board of Education approved Wednesday. But opponents fear the new standards sets the bar too low.

The State Board’s final 9-2 vote ends months of debate on the proposal known as “REPA II.”  State education officials say the new guidelines give schools more flexibility in the teacher hiring process.