Indiana State Board of Education

Questions about Indiana’s New Assessment System

Mission Statement

The Indiana Superintendent, State Board and Department of Education will lead the improvement of student learning in the K-12 schools of Indiana.

The Vision

Each Hoosier child is educated to have the knowledge, skills, maturity, social competence and motivation to be:
   • prepared to succeed in further education
   • an effective participant in the global economy
   • a positive influence in the community
   • an active citizen in American democracy

Flexibility for student-centered, learning-focused education NEW

The State Board of Education has signaled its intent to provide flexibility to support student-centered and learning-focused educational innovation and entrepreneurship through its December 14, 2007, Open Letter to Indiana Educators and its June 4, 2008, Network Model School Flexibility Policy. In both cases, flexibility is requested by noting the desired flexibility within the School Improvement Plan and submitting the plan to the Department of Education’s Office of Accreditation & Awards.

• Open Letter to Indiana Educators
• Network Model School Flexibility Policy

Meeting Agendas, Minutes and Streaming Video

• December 2008 Meeting Agenda NEW
• Video: State Board of Education Public Hearing: ISTEP
  July 20, 2006
• Video: State Board of Education Public Hearing: ISTEP
  June 7 & 19, 2006
• Meeting Minutes and Streaming Video WOW
• 2008-09 Meeting Dates UPDATED
• View video of the November 2008 State Board Meeting

Memos

• Student Instructional Expenditures (2006-07)
• Arrangements, shared services arrangements and Efforts of school corporations to explore Cooperatives, common management, or Consolidations as reported by Indiana Public School Corporations for the 2006-2007 school year.
• Summary of consolidated purchasing Arrangements, shared services arrangements and Efforts of school corporations to explore Cooperatives, common management, or Consolidations as reported by Education Service Centers for the 2006-2007 school year.
• NCLB Update Presented at Indiana School Boards Association 2007 Fall Conference.
• A Long-Term Assessment Plan for Indiana: Driving Student Learning Comprehensive Assessment Plan
• High School Diploma for Honorably Discharged Veterans
• New Graduation Requirements Rule
• Graduation Requirements Questions and Answers and Chart

Other Areas of Interest

• Indiana State Board of Education School Facility Guidelines
• Public Participation in Board Meetings
• Policies Governing Adjudications, Procedures, and Delegation of Authority

Links

• Teacher Licensing - Division of Professional Standards
• State Board of Education Rules
• Indiana Code - Education and Education Finance

About the Indiana State Board of Education

Established by the General Assembly, the 11-member State Board of Education oversees state education policy-making.

Its major responsibilities, set by statute, are to:

• establish the educational goals of the state, developing standards and objectives for local school corporations;
• assess the attainment of the established goals;
• assure the compliance with established standards and objectives; and
• make recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly on the educational needs of the state, including financial needs.

On a more specific basis, the State Board of Education has authority over areas such as distribution of state funds, accreditation of local schools, and adoption of textbooks for use in the schools.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is a voting member and chairs the Board. The remaining 10 members are appointed by the Governor, one from each of the state's congressional districts. No more than six of the 10 appointed members may be from the same political party, and at least four must be educators.

In addition, an advisory committee on textbook adoptions assists the State Board of Education. Its seven members are appointed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

State Board Members