Changes for Indiana schools pass with budget

Niki Kelly, The Journal Gazette

nkelly@jg.net

INDIANAPOLIS - Lost in the battle over school funding and a possible state shutdown, a number of policy shifts were inserted in the new state budget that state officials say represent major education reform in Indiana.

Turning back caps on charter school growth and authorizing a pilot program for virtual online charter schools are getting the most attention.

But legislators also allowed the use of ISTEP+ scores in teacher evaluations and passed a provision that strongly encourages - some even say forces - school districts to use the state health insurance plan to provide coverage for current and former employees.