This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters Indiana high school graduation rates for the class of 2024 inched up to a record high of 90.2% and increased across Black, Hispanic, and English language learner students. The latest graduation rates are the highest in a decade, marking a 1.25 […]
Education
Posted inEducation, Partner Content, Politics & Policy, State Government
What Indiana Lawmakers Said About the State Budget and Property Tax Reform
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters Uncertainty about Indiana’s budget marked the unofficial start of the 2025 legislative session this week — and comes at a particularly bad time for schools. Earlier this month, legislative leaders agreed with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce that the state will […]
Posted inEducation, Mental Health, Partner Content
Student Mental Health Needs Are Growing. Will the Legislature Help?
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Doreen Waldbieser, a school counselor in Vigo County, stepped to the microphone Nov. 8 at a Department of Education hearing on diplomas and began alphabetically listing her counseling duties: Attend active shooter training. Analyze transcripts. Answer emails and phone calls. Change schedules. Conduct screenings. Connect students to assistance. […]
Posted inEducation
Gary Voters Keep Democrats in Key Seats for State and Federal Leadership
Democrats swept key races in Northwest Indiana on Tuesday, securing major wins for U.S. House and state legislature seats critical to Gary and the surrounding areas. Rep. Vernon Smith held on to his Indiana House District 14 seat, defeating Republican Ivan Ursery II handily, securing 72% of the vote. Smith, who was originally elected to […]
Posted inCommunity, Education, Youth
Gary ‘Canoemobile’ makes a splash at Marquette Park
Alongside a stunning sunset overlooking the water of Marquette Park, Gary residents ranging from 7 to 74 years old gathered on the trail behind Marquette Pavilion. Amid tea, snacks, and shimmering waters, curiosity and excitement surrounded the two light blue canoes tucked atop the Marquette lagoon. But these are no ordinary vessels: they’re 24-foot “Canoemobiles.” […]
Posted inEducation, Health
Gary’s School Board Considers a Proposal for New Cell Towers in the Area. Here’s What Is at Stake.
They are in our homes, at our dinner tables, and on desks. We put them up to our ears, carry them in our hands, and slip them in our back pockets. In many ways, cellphones have become a daily part of our lives. But as the cell towers that power them continue to crop up […]
Posted inEducation, Partner Content, Politics & Policy
New Indiana law designed to reduce chronic absenteeism could lead to more parent prosecutions
This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters This story was written by journalists at the Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism at Indiana University in partnership with Chalkbeat Indiana. After the death of her parents, an Indianapolis student’s attendance began to lapse — her guardians were busy, and school […]
Posted inEducation, Health, Politics & Policy
Indiana Black Legislative Caucus Hosts Gary Town Hall Ahead of Democratic Convention
Days before the Democratic National Convention, Indiana’s Black Legislative Caucus gathered in Gary on Saturday for a community town hall, providing residents with a review of key legislative outcomes from this year and a glimpse of the caucus’s priorities for the upcoming session. At Indiana University Northwest’s Bergland Auditorium, nine of the caucus’s 14 members […]
Posted inEducation
Gary Students Return to Class as New School Year Begins
In the gentle glow of the morning sun, newly appointed Gary schools Superintendent Yvonne Stokes stood at the entrance of the Bethune Early Childhood Development Center, warmly greeting parents and students on the first day of school. She ushered in the new school year with a wave and a smile, marking a pivotal moment for […]
Posted inCommunity Spotlight, Education
Cultivating Dreams: How a Gary Teen Discovered His Future in Farming
Surrounded by dozens of packing boxes and duffel bags in his childhood Gary home, Reid Hall prepares himself for his next adventure: going to college. Stuffing suitcases full of clothes, shoes, and golf clubs, he hasn’t fully packed for his move out of state. But he said he is excited to begin a new chapter […]