Judge dismisses effort to halt student loan forgiveness plan
A federal judge on Thursday dismissed an effort by six Republican-led states to block the Biden administration’s plan to forgive student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans.
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Hoosiers with commercially-held loans might not qualify for federal student debt relief
Some Hoosiers may no longer qualify for President Joe Biden’s student debt relief plan after federal officials quietly changed the eligibility qualifications late last week.
Hoosier lawyer is lone plaintiff in lawsuit to block student debt cancellation plan
An Indiana attorney who claims to qualify for the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan is challenging the debt relief, asserting he will face a state tax liability and be worse off because of the U.S. Department of Education’s “end-run around Congress.”
Trans girls’ sports ban: Rokita opposes Title IX changes, female athletes file amici brief supporting the state
Efforts supporting a law restricting transgender girls from participating in girls’ K-12 sports continued this week, with Attorney General Todd Rokita opposing proposed Title IX changes and a group of female athletes filing a brief in support of the ban.
Mayes: Title IX proposed rulemaking: Expanded protections
In June 2022, the U.S. Department of Education unveiled proposed changes to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, marking the 50th anniversary of that important federal law championed by Indiana U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh.
Big student loan forgiveness plan announced by Biden
President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced his long-awaited plan to deliver on a campaign promise to provide $10,000 in student debt cancellation for millions of Americans — and up to $10,000 more for those with the greatest financial need — along with new measures to lower the burden of repayment for their remaining federal student debt.
School district, psychologist win partial motions to dismiss in special ed discrimination suit
A northern Indiana school district and its contract psychologist have secured partial victories in a lawsuit brought by the mother of a child with special needs who alleged her child was not given proper educational services.
20 states including IN sue over Biden admin school, work LGBT protections
Attorneys general from 20 states including Indiana sued President Joe Biden’s administration Monday seeking to halt directives that extend federal sex discrimination protections to LGBTQ people, ranging from transgender girls participating in school sports to the use of school and workplace bathrooms that align with a person’s gender identity.
State seeking $154M from former charter schools accused of enrollment fraud
The state of Indiana is suing to recover more than $154 million from two now-defunct charter schools accused of padding their enrollment numbers to receive extra state funds, then misappropriating those funds to benefit school associates and their private businesses.
Indiana AG’s “Parents Bill of Rights” document sparks criticism
A document penned this week by the Indiana Attorney General called “Parents Bill of Rights” has caused a stir among parents and political parties alike, partially taking aim at topics of critical race theory and social emotional learning in schools.
Loan relief granted to defrauded for-profit college students
The U.S. Education Department said Wednesday it’s erasing student debt for thousands of borrowers who attended a for-profit college chain that made exaggerated claims about its graduates’ success in finding jobs. The Biden administration said it is approving 18,000 loan forgiveness claims from former students of ITT Technical Institute, a chain that closed in 2016 after being dealt a series of sanctions by the Obama administration.
Group asks SCOTUS to ban use of race in college admissions
A group claiming Harvard University discriminates against Asian American applicants is asking the United States Supreme Court to ban the consideration of race in college admissions nationwide.
Indiana Senate passes bill to require FAFSA submission
A bill that would require students at public schools to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid advanced to the Indiana House after lawmakers approved the measure in a Senate vote Tuesday.
Indiana deans sign letter calling attack on Capitol a betrayal
The deans of two Indiana Law Schools have joined more than 150 of their colleagues from around the country in denouncing last week’s attack on the U.S. Capitol as a betrayal of the Constitution’s core values.
Holcomb’s budget proposal calls for increases in funding for K-12, higher ed
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s budget proposal for the next two years calls for increases to funding for K-12, higher education and broadband internet.
Holcomb’s agenda calls for increasing K-12 funding, continuing existing programs
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said he will try to increase funding for K-12 education in the state’s next two-year budget and, at a minimum, restore previous funding levels for higher education institutions.
Building civic-minded Hoosiers: Task force recommends expanding civic education statewide
The 2019 Indiana Civic Health Index called attention to the issue of community participation and recommended the appointment of a committee to examine civic education. As a result, the Indiana Bar Foundation Civic Education Task Force was formed. At a Nov. 18 press conference, officials presented a final report urging a series of recommendations to improve civic education in Indiana.
Holcomb names adviser Jenner first Indiana education secretary
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has tapped his senior education adviser to serve as the state’s first secretary of education, marking the first time in more than a century the state schools superintendent position isn’t decided by voters.
Judge slams DeVos for rejecting 94% of loan relief claims
Months after vowing to process a backlog of 160,000 requests for loan forgiveness from students who say they were defrauded by their schools, the U.S. Education Department has rejected 94% of claims it has reviewed, according to a federal judge who is demanding justification for the “blistering pace” of denials.
SCOTUS favorite Barrett’s Purdue Title IX opinion hews to text, sets standard
With 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Amy Coney Barrett a favorite to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, the focus has been on the jurist’s views of abortion, but an opinion in a Purdue University sexual misconduct case she authored little more than a year ago may provide more insight into her approach to the law.