Education
a note from the
Indiana Department of Education
best math standards in the country,
) Improve instructional quality
Hoosier students continually rank in the
and enhance school governance and
middle of the pack compared to students
leadership.
in other states. Our commitment to
Dr. Tony Bennett is a native of Clark
student achievement in math must match
4) Develop learning support systems
County and a former superintendent of Greater
the expectations we have laid out in the
Clark Community Schools. He earned a Master of
that facilitate academic achievement and
standards, and that means providing
Science in Secondary Education, and a Bachelor
career preparation.
additional resources to teachers and
of Science in Secondary Education from Indiana
University Southeast.
schools to improve achievement.
5) Establish high and clear standards
for success, keep score, and ensure
Hold every school accountable and
At the Indiana Department of that resulting school accountability is
take bold and aggressive actions to
Education, our vision is that the transparent to the public.
reform and improve failing schools.
academic achievement and career
The Department of Education must
preparation of all Indiana students will ) Provide exceptional customer service
become a resource for schools by
be the best in the United States and on while operating with
providing guidance to schools in need of
par with the most competitive countries
assistance.
in the world. But while a broad plan gives us a
framework for success, we have also
Rapidly increase AP class availability
We recently released our action plan identified several key priorities for 2009.
and participation.
that will guide Hoosier education for We will focus our attention and resources
Nearly 1 in 4 Indiana students who go on
the next four years and beyond. You on these initiatives in the year to come.
to college must take a remedial math or
can find it online at http://doe.in.gov/ Our priorities include:
English course in the first year. Along
actionplan.
with working to improve the number
The pillars of the action plan include: Cultivate and promote world-class,
of students who graduate and go on to
1) Create and promote a statewide research-based K-12 reading and math
college, we must also invest in rigorous
culture of academic excellence, in programs.
programs such as Advanced Placement.
which at least: Each year, 25,000 Indiana third graders
Such programs also come with the
a) 90% of students pass both move to fourth grade despite not being
potential of earning college credit while
Math and English/Language able to read at the third grade level. The
still in high school, giving our students a
Arts sections of ISTEP+ and ability to read at grade level is perhaps
leg up once they get there.
End-of-Course Assessments; the best indicator for future success in
b) 25% of all graduates receive
high school and beyond. Third grade
Develop effective Career and
a score of , 4 or 5 on at least
is a bellwether year, as well, as 80% of
Technical Education (CTE) and adult
one Advanced Placement
students who leave third grade unable
education systems.
exam, a 4 or higher on an
to read at grade level will never catch
A one-size fits all approach to education
International Baccalaureate
up. Therefore, it is imperative for
is insufficient in today’s world. Not
exam, or receive the equivalent
us to increase the time we spend on
all students will go to college, and it is
of  semester hours of college
reading in those early formative years,
our duty to ensure that every student
credit during their high school
and to expand reading across the entire
is prepared to be compete in whatever
years; and
curriculum to emphasize its importance.
their chosen field. It should be our goal
In addition, math skills are more
c) 90% of students graduate
to produce the nation’s top masons,
important than ever to prepare students
from high school.
plumbers and auto technicians, along
for good-paying jobs in a 21
st
century
with producing the best chemists,
economy. A strong grasp of math
2) Free Indiana schools from
engineers and mathematicians. We are
skills also helps cognitive thinking and
unnecessary regulations and eliminate
committed to developing successful CTE
problem solving. But despite having
other barriers to developing new and
and adult education systems in Indiana
what many experts consider to be the
innovative structures for learning.
and consider them an urgent priority.
Southern Indiana Education15
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