STRAIGHT FROM THE SENATE
HOOSIER STUDENTS MUST ‘LEARN SO THEY CAN EARN’ IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY
Indiana works to advance achievement, increase grad rates, recruit qualified teachers
Better education leads to better jobs. Indiana’s youth must receive the education necessary to be successful in today’s competitive workforce. Recent efforts include:
Advancing Academic Achievement
Despite challenging financial times nationwide, Indiana increased educational funding while other states are cutting school funding and programs due to budget deficits. An additional $92 million was provided so more students can enroll in optional full-day kindergarten.
Spring ISTEP+ testing (starting in 2009) will allow student progress to be more immediately measured while saving taxpayers’ money in the long run.
Instruction must come before construction. By law, the ratio of academic to non-academic school spending is now evaluated regularly. Indiana should have safe and well-maintained schools, but taxpayers, educators and academic achievement must come first.
Increasing Graduation Rates
In an effort to increase graduation rates among Hoosier students, Indiana increased the age students can legally drop out of school from 16 to 18 years old.
Indiana’s Dropout Recovery Project provides high school dropouts the opportunity to work with Ivy Tech Community College and other adult educational programs across the state.
Recruiting and Retaining Highly Qualified Teachers
Indiana is the first state to participate in the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship program encouraging the nation’s top talents to seek long-term teaching careers in Indiana’s high-need classrooms.
Ensuring College Readiness
To continue meeting the needs of Indiana students, the Interim Study Committee on Education Matters will study college readiness and fees by colleges, as well as virtual-based learning, school transportation and technology funding.
Sen. David Long (R-Fort Wayne) is President Pro-Tem of the Indiana Senate. He serves District 16, which includes portions of Fort Wayne.
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