Lawmakers approve $34.6B budget to wrap up session
The Indiana General Assembly has approved the state’s $34.6 billion budget for the next two years, sending it to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature days ahead of the legislative deadline.
Education
Articles
State lawmakers pad DCS budget, hike school funding only slightly
State lawmakers are poised to increase school funding by 2.5 percent each year in a $34 billion final budget plan — just slightly more than the amount proposed last week by the Indiana Senate. Meanwhile, the Indiana Department of Child Services’ budget will jump by more than a half-billion dollars over the next two fiscal years.
COA rejects ex-teacher’s defamation claims against Elkhart Truth
A former Elkhart teacher who alleged a newspaper defamed him by writing an article about his federal lawsuit against the school that fired him failed to convince an appellate panel that the issue was not of public interest, or that the article was not written in good faith.
New IU Maurer professorship honors first black, female U.S. state justice
The Indiana University Maurer School of Law has announced the creation of a trailblazing endowed professorship – the first in Indiana University history to honor an African-American woman, and the law school’s first named after a woman of color.
COA upholds judgment for university against former employees
The Indiana Court of Appeals affirmed the denial of two former Oakland City University employees’ claims against the school and its president, concluding they were not fraudulently induced into their employment or fired in retaliation for uncovering misuse of public funds.
Indiana Senate approves $34.6B budget with slightly more education funding
The Indiana Senate approved its two-year, $34.6 billion state budget proposal Tuesday morning, setting up final budget negotiations between both chambers as lawmakers close out the last two weeks of this year’s General Assembly.
Dean to step down after leading IU McKinney through legal ed ‘rough patch’
At a time when the median tenure of a law school dean is 3.6 years, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law Dean Andrew Klein will have served nearly double that at seven years when he returns to the classroom next year. He will also have been the law school’s second longest-serving dean in the past 60 years.
Report: Indiana’s outsized foster population lags educationally
Indiana, which places a greater percentage of its children in the foster care system than almost any other state, must take steps to close educational shortcomings for children in the system, according to a first-of-its-kind report released recently that details a wide achievement gap.
Emmert: Court ruling reinforces NCAA athletes not employees
Indianapolis-based NCAA President Mark Emmert says a judge’s recent ruling in a federal antitrust lawsuit again reinforced that college athletes should be treated as students not employees.
IU McKinney Dean Klein to step down in 2020
Andrew Klein, who has led the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law since July 2013, has announced he will be stepping down as dean in June of 2020. He confirmed his decision in a recent email to faculty members, saying he considered it a “privilege to work with each and every one of you.
Indiana lawmakers back away from mandating citizenship test
State lawmakers have put the brakes on a measure that would have required Indiana students to pass the U.S. citizenship test to earn a high school diploma.
Second Roncalli counselor loses job over same-sex marriage
A second guidance counselor at an Indianapolis Catholic high school will lose her job because she’s in a same-sex marriage.
‘Full House’ star to surrender in college admissions scandal
Fallout from a sweeping college admissions scandal swiftly spread Wednesday, with a Silicon Valley hedge fund replacing its leader and “Full House” actress Lori Loughlin expected to surrender and appear in court in Los Angeles.
Indiana lawmakers have 400 bills at session’s halfway mark
Indiana lawmakers are entering the second half of the legislative session with more than 400 bills still alive, covering issues including teacher pay, gambling and hate crimes.
Web exclusive: Maurer 1L judicial clerkships offer legal aid to rural judges
Five first-year law students from Indiana University Maurer School of Law who are interested in careers in public service have been selected and paired with Indiana trial court judges who preside in smaller communities — specifically, Orange, Putnam, Vigo, Washington and White counties. The pilot’s ultimate goal: offering law students an opportunity to experience real-life practice in smaller communities while assisting Hoosier judges who might be overlooked by students who want to clerk in larger urban areas.
Volunteer judges sought for Indiana mock trial finals
Indiana’s High School Mock Trial program is sending out a call for volunteer judges during its state finals competition this weekend.
Indiana House passes $34.6B budget along party lines
The Indiana House on Monday passed a $34.6 billion two-year budget along party lines. The budget includes an increase of more than $550 million over two years for the Indiana Department of Child Services.
ICLEO 2019 application deadline draws near
The deadline to apply for the Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity program is quickly approaching. Those interested in the six-week summer institute must apply this week.
Bar exam review commission opens meetings to public
A 14-member study commission appointed to review the Indiana Bar Exam in light of the ongoing decline in passage rates will hold a series of 10 monthly meetings, all open to the public, at the Indiana Statehouse beginning next week.
Indiana superintendent criticized for letter seeking prayers
A southern Indiana school superintendent’s letter asking local churches to pray for the district has led to criticism that he may have overstepped the boundary between church and state.