Indiana House panel advances school cellphone crackdown, revised youth social media bills
Both measures now head to the full House after getting reworks in the Education Committee.
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Indiana Senate backs bill restricting transgender school restroom use
Emma Vosicky, the executive director of GenderNexus, criticized provisions that would allow anyone “who is directly or indirectly injured” by an alleged violation of the restroom restrictions to file a lawsuit against the school.
Indiana senators push forward social media limits for minors, stricter school tech policies
Indiana’s Senate Education Committee advanced bills that would restrict minors’ access to social media platforms and another that would require schools to strengthen technology plans and give parents greater control over at-home device use.
Bill from Indianapolis Republican seeks to ban lobbyists for public schools, universities
Rep. Andrew Ireland said he authored the bill because he’s concerned about school districts hiring lobbyists with money that could be going toward the classroom.
Citing mental health impacts, Indiana legislators seek to limit social media use by children
Separate proposals would also restrict phones in schools and allow parents to set stronger filters on school-issued devices.
Republican senators file bill to restore alumni-elected positions to IU’s board of trustees
Senate Bill 110 would revert the board’s makeup to what it looked like before the 2025 legislative session, with five governor-appointed members, three alumni-elected members and one student representative.
‘Classrooms to Courtrooms’ initiative brings judges to Arsenal Tech High School
Indiana Court of Appeals Judge Elizabeth Tavitas and Marion County Superior Court Judge Helen Marchal spoke to students as part of an initiative aimed at exposing high school students to different opportunities in the legal profession.
Trump administration seeks to move special education to different agency
Moving the program would not necessarily impact distribution of funding to the states. The money for the current school year has already been sent to states.
Indiana seeks federal waiver to streamline education funding, ‘align’ accountability
Indiana is asking the federal government for permission to overhaul how it spends and tracks billions in education aid — a request that Hoosier officials said would align the state’s accountability system with federal law and allow more freedom in how schools use their funds.
Judge issues nationwide block on policy that cuts off Head Start for people in US illegally
The change was part of a broader Trump administration effort to exclude people without legal status from accessing social services by making changes to federal eligibility rules.
Brad Boswell: Tackle school funding inequalities before other issues
While other policy changes may have merit or be necessary, there are some underlying truths about school funding inequalities that are preventing these policy changes from having their fully intended impact.
Federal funds for low-performing schools would be redirected under Indiana flexibility request
Indiana would redirect $25 million in annual federal school improvement funding away from low-performing schools under a state proposal for more flexibility in how it spends federal funds.
Lawsuit challenges restrictions on Head Start for kids in the US illegally
A coalition of 21 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the Trump administration’s restrictions.
Indiana’s universal school voucher system spotlighted at conservative policy conference
Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston was among key panelists on Wednesday’s “school choice” education panel.
Indiana colleges cut hundreds of low-enrollment degree programs ahead of state mandate
Six of Indiana’s public colleges and universities are cutting or consolidating more than 400 academic degree programs ahead of a new state law that takes effect this week, the Indiana Commission for Higher Education announced Monday.
Indiana private school voucher spending tops $497M as enrollment slows
Participation in Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program grew by about 8.5% in the 2024-25 school year — marking a slowdown after record-setting enrollment growth in prior years.
Indiana schools get roadmap for K-12 policy changes following 2025 legislative session
A new academic year is still weeks away, but Indiana educators are already working to implement a slate of new laws passed during the 2025 legislative session.
Former Indiana virtual charter school official to plead guilty in $44M fraud case
Percy Clark, 82, of Carmel, who helped oversee Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy, admitted to participating in a plan to inflate student enrollment numbers to obtain tens of millions of dollars in state education funding.
Former Anderson University president joins Church Church Hittle + Antrim
John Pistole, former president of Anderson University, has joined Church Church Hittle + Antrim as a senior advisor in the firm’s Higher Education Practice Group.
Notre Dame connection may have led to Supreme Court deadlock in religious charter school case
Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself, possibly because of her connection to a Notre Dame law professor who advised the religious entity trying to establish the charter school.