Lawmakers want to overhaul standardized tests, but state and federal law could limit how much they change.

In preliminary numbers compiled by State Board of Education staff, 17 percent of Indiana's K-12 schools will be considered failing under the state's A-F accountability system. Last year, 4 percent of schools were considered failing.

State leaders say they recognize the difficulties presented by changing standardized tests, and that they are taking the necessary steps to help make the transition go more smoothly.

Data show that Indiana saw an 81 percent increase in the number of homeless students from 2008 to 2013.

A 50-member commission created by State Superintendent Glenda Ritz met for the first time Friday to begin developing strategies to address Indiana's teacher shortage.

The Indiana Department of Education says eight struggling schools across the state will receive more than $8 million in improvement grants to help turn around student performance.

The Indiana Department of Education issued licenses to about 5,599 teachers in 2009-10, and in '13-14 that number sat closer to 4,500.