The Indiana State Board of Education voted last week to begin rulemaking for a new literacy law recently passed by state lawmakers.

The Genius School, a K-6 school on the city’s east side, is petitioning the State Board of Education for accreditation as a non-public school.

HSE board members voted unanimously to appoint Patrick Mapes, the former Perry Township Schools superintendent, to the top spot.

The state is preparing to overhaul graduation requirements in an effort to better prepare students before they enter the workforce. The State Board of Education received guidance at its monthly meeting Wednesday before the rulemaking period for the new diploma requirements begins next month.

About 40% of Hoosier students missed 10 or more school days last year, and nearly one in five were absent for at least 18 days, according to new Indiana data.

The Indiana Department of Education has not taken any official action yet on the ILEARN redesign, but state officials kicked off discussions about the process at Wednesdays State Board of Education meeting.

Indiana’s middle school students will now be taught the foundations and function of government, and their role as citizens as part of a new civics curriculum.

School leaders were surprised by the change — lawmakers added the language during the final steps of the legislative process — and one of the state's largest school districts says some will be challenged by it more than others.

Hoosiers now know more about how Indiana officials will publicize information on schools' performance across the state.

Indiana is scrambling to correct a longstanding violation of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and it plans to stop issuing emergency permits for special education teachers in less than nine months.