Joined by Vincennes President Dick Helton, Governor Mike Pence enjoyed hands-on experience with the Vincennes University (VU) CNC machining class as he operated the final machining step for a class project designed to commemorate his visit.  The class was composed of U.S. military veterans, who will complete the 16-week session earning six industry-recognized certifications and finish with a full-time job in one of the highest demand occupations in Indiana.  VU has seen expansive growth in their enrollment as well as in their collection of outstanding training equipment, with much acquired through partnerships with local and national businesses.  

Pence also toured the VU robotics lab, the 3-D printing laboratory, and welcomed more than 200 Jobs for American Graduates (JAG) students who were visiting the university for a college-prep experience from across the state.  More than 1,100 JAG students will visit VU on November 14, during their second-annual college visitation day to acquaint themselves with VU's campus. 

Article: Governor visits Vincennes University

The Indiana Charter School Board (ICSB) approved the application for the Excel Center South Bend charter school at its Board meeting on Tuesday, October 14, 2014. Governed by Goodwill LEADS, Inc., the Center will provide adults with the opportunity and support to earn a high school diploma with dual credit or industry certifications and enable graduates to pursue post-secondary education or career paths in growing sectors of the local economy.

“Goodwill LEADS is excited to have the opportunity to open the Excel Center in South Bend. We understand the importance of a good, solid education for individuals who are looking to reach their goals and provide for themselves and their families,” said Debie Coble, board member of Goodwill LEADS and president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Michiana. “Not only will individuals have the opportunity to return to school and obtain a diploma, but they can demonstrate the importance of education for their children.”

The school, projected to open in the fall of 2015, will serve up to 350 students in grades 9-12 at full capacity and will be operated by Goodwill Education Initiatives and INIschools. The school will offer a flexible structure and supportive relationships to help students manage work, life, and family concerns as they achieve their educational goals.

“Goodwill Education Initiatives is thrilled to support Goodwill LEADS, Inc. as it opens the first Excel Center in Indiana outside of the central part of the state,” said Scott Bess, chief operating officer of Goodwill Education Initiatives and senior vice president of Education at Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana. “Our experience with the nine Excel Centers in Central Indiana that we operate has shown that adults who have previously interrupted their high school experience welcome the opportunity to complete their high school diploma and will take advantage of post-secondary opportunities that enable them to become economically self-sufficient.”

The ICSB has conducted seven application cycles and has approved applications received from 12 different organizers to date. The approved Goodwill LEADS, Inc. application is available on the ICSB web site.

At its October 15 business meeting, the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) heard appeals from traditional public, private and public charter schools regarding the Department of Education’s (DOE) calculation of A-F school accountability grades. The Board ultimately decided to delay release of the grades until its next meeting on November 5th.  The SBOE asked the DOE to address all identified issues following the meeting’s deliberations and cited errors uncovered during the appeals process that raised systemic questions about data reliability for an additional 70-80 schools, as well as a request for the Legislative Services Agency to complete its audit of the DOE’s calculations.

The SBOE discussed the A-F appeals process for all schools at two recent Board meetings, and adopted criteria for the appeals process at its September 3, 2014 meeting. For atypically configured schools, including schools that have expanded by adding new grade levels but don’t fall within the language of the accountability rule, the Board voted last month to assess these schools on a case-by-case basis rather than try to force a formulaic approach.

Dr. Brad Oliver, Sixth District representative, noted that it was important for the Board to focus on what he referred to as “substantive due process” for schools that aren’t addressed within the accountability regulations, and to apply a common sense approach.

“Where the [A-F] rule is silent, it is reasonable for the Board to look at the preponderance of evidence and make a reasonable decision,” explained Dr. Oliver.  “At the end of the day, if these letter grades don’t communicate something reasonable based on the data, what good are they anyway?” 

In other business, the Board approved Kindergarten readiness assessments required for the state’s new Pre-K Pilot Program, and moved to table the Lead Partner agreement for Indianapolis Public Schools until after an upcoming meeting of its Committee on School Turnarounds, which should help to better clarify roles and responsibilities for both parties.  The recommendation came following considerable committee discussions with existing partners and school corporations regarding recommended improvements to Indiana’s current approach to school turnarounds.

Courtesy of the NE Indiana Regional Partnership

A "Snapshot" of the state of education in Northeast Indiana was released today by the Big Goal Collaborative, an initiative of the NE Indiana Regional Partnership. This baseline report marks the first time that this education data has been compiled at a regional level.

The Snapshot is designed to gauge the region's success in a series of key measures identified by Big Goal Collaborative stakeholders as critical to the region's ability to produce an educated and technically qualified workforce. The Snapshot includes currently available statistics and indicators within the five segments of the education continuum - early childhood learning, K-8, high school completion, technical education and postsecondary completion.

"The Snapshot ensures we are aligned around a common vision and helps identify best practices in the region and share them with others who are facing similar hurdles. Reaching the Big Goal is a team effort," said Ryan Twiss, director of the Big Goal Collaborative at the NE Indiana Regional Partnership.

The Big Goal - increasing the percentage of residents in Northeast Indiana with high-quality degrees or credentials to 60% by 2025 - is one of the priorities identified through the Partnership's Vision 2020 initiative.

According to the most current data available, nearly 37% of residents in Northeast Indiana have a postsecondary degree or high-quality credential. The 2014 Snapshot shows that if the region's attainment level continues to rise at the current rate, only about 45% of residents will have a postsecondary degree or high-quality credential by 2025. But by 2025, more than 60% of jobs in the U.S. will require a postsecondary degree or high-quality credential.

"If Northeast Indiana can't meet that demand, jobs will go elsewhere," said Twiss. "Knowing where we currently stand is crucial if we want to move closer to reaching the Big Goal and compete for new jobs."

The 2014 Snapshot can be found in the Resource Center on the Regional Partnership's Vision 2020 website. Click here for more information about the Big Goal Collaborative.