"INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana education officials have charted a bold and controversial path for the state's schools with a series of reforms that include forcing out weak teachers, shutting down teacher colleges whose graduates don't get results, and converting troubled schools to charters."
Under the plan, Indiana also would jettison its curriculum standards in favor of a new, national initiative and a nationwide test would replace ISTEP. The state also would open pathways to enter teaching for more people who don't go through traditional four-year education degree programs.
Gov. Mitch Daniels and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett laid out the plan in their application this week for a piece of the $4.4 billion federal stimulus money earmarked for "Race to the Top" education reform.
The proposal envisions a drastically changed educational system where all teachers are evaluated each year. More than half their review would be based on how their students performed on state standardized tests compared with the students' previous scores, and low performers would face consequences.
The plan drew mixed reactions.
Carol Mooney, director of the New Albany Floyd County Education