Education

A bill that would require Indiana’s elementary schools to teach cursive writing is on its way to the floor of the state Senate.

The chamber’s Education and Career Development Committee voted 7-4 today to advance the measure sponsored by Republican Jean Leising.

Leising says she’s concerned about a new state education department policy that makes the teaching of cursive writing optional but requires that students become proficient in keyboard use.

The Kentucky Department of Education is planning to release data next month on the state’s alternative schools for the first time as they look to improve transparency and accountability for the population the schools serve.

Over 70,000 students are estimated to attend alternative programs in the state (which could include duplicate student numbers),  many of which are in specialized schools that range in services and purposes. 

Lawmakers and educators who attended Kentucky’s special House Subcommittee on School Safety this week say they are pleased with results of the first meeting and the chairman says he plans to hold another meeting next week.

The temporary subcommittee was created by House Speaker Greg Stumbo, but a bill filed by subcommittee chair Rep. Richard Henderson, D-74, would make it permanent. The subcommittee was created in the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last month.

Kentucky’s Centre College is creating a new summer program this year for Kentucky juniors and seniors to learn more about the world outside state.

The Global Leadership Academy will take place over two weeks in the middle of June this summer; the goal for Centre is to get Kentucky’s high school students more in line with global leadership and cultures.

It’s the first attempt at such a program for the private college in Danville, Ky., which is leveraging its reputation as a strong study abroad college to start the program.