Monger, Riverview among most family-friendly schools
The honor is given to schools that go above and beyond in engaging the families of the students they serve in the educational process.
'We're proud that two of our exemplary schools were given this honor,' ECS superintendent Dr. Larry Huff said. 'They embody the Elkhart Promise to know students by name, and to partner with their community to prepare them for their careers and the rest of their lives.'
Also named in the list was Prairie View Elementary in Goshen.
The Indiana Department of Education designated 45 Indiana schools as 2025 Family Friendly Schools. These schools – which span across the state, and include public and non-public schools – are demonstrating excellence in engaging families in their children's education, a release said.
Launched in 2015, the Family Friendly Schools designation focuses on fostering the active involvement of families through schools and the community. The program recognizes and honors schools that welcome all families into the school community, communicate effectively, and work together to maximize student success.
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Not To Brag, But This List Of 29 Walmart Problem-Solving Products I Have Compiled Is Like…Really Good
Indoor fertilizer spikes for an easy way to ensure your ferns and fiddle-leaf figs are well nourished. Just stick them in the soil and they'll keep your plant babies well-fed for up to two months. No measuring, no mixing, no mess. Promising review: "I absolutely love these!! My plants love them too!!! Highly recommend these if you're not the best with keeping plants alive. These are literally lifesavers!" —SaraPrice: $3.62 A peel-and-stick motion sensor light to automatically brighten up those dark, hard-to-reach corners in your home, like inside your closet or underneath kitchen cabinets. It has a magnetic base so you can easily remove the puck for recharging and it can also be powered by batteries so you have all the options. Promising review: "For 10 bucks I wasn't expecting anything great but I love this little thing. It's not super duper bright but it does what I needed to which is light up my laundry room. It's bright enough for me to get to the light switch on the other side of the room and you can charge it with your phone charger or put batteries in it and it comes with some tape on the back to stick the base wherever you need to put it so you don't have to damage your walls or ceilings with nails or screws." —SullivanPrice: $10.76+ A mini trash can for easily gathering all the used tissues, candy wrappers, and receipts that would otherwise be scattered around your car (or make their way into your bag). It fits perfectly into most cup holders. Promising review: 'Mini trash can sits perfectly in the cupholder that I don't use. Perfect for the occasional candy and gum wrappers. It's so cute. You just push the lid in and drop your trash just like a big trash can." —HeidiPrice: $3.98 A Neutrogena SPF 50 sunscreen stick that's TSA-friendly, spill-proof, and glides on like an absolute dream. 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I found out about them from a professional painter." —DaughtergartenPrice: $11.48 for four A castor-oil serum to help nourish and condition your lashes and eyebrows if they're feeling a little sparse. Reviewers say they saw softer and fuller lashes and brows after using this regularly. Promising review: 'This stuff really does work to make the brow and lash look fuller. It also comes with lash brushes and brow brushes. Great product." —Castor Price: $10.98 A slide-on draft stopper for your door that'll keep (depending on the season) cold or warm air inside where it belongs and possibly help you save on utility bills. Promising review: "Perfect fit! I had a large gap and this item fills it perfectly. I have a white door, and this blends in very well. Best of all, it requires no nails in my door — just slide it on and it's very secure. I used small hand snippers to cut it." —tinaat1013Price: $14.62 A jewelry cleaning pen so you can keep your precious accessories sparkling even while traveling. No time to get a professional cleaning? No problem. Promising review: 'I'm not one to write many reviews, but I got this diamond cleaner pen in the mail today and used it right away. I'm so blown away by the results, I need to tell you all to just buy this, wow! My stone is radiant cut and with those extra facets and the stone being larger, it tends to accumulate soap residue/etc. through daily wear and simply dipping it into my usual jewelry cleaner just doesn't clean it like I'd like. This cleaner pen is amazing! It has brought the diamond pretty much back to the sparkle a professional cleaning would (I last had it cleaned at the jeweler four months ago). 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Promising review: 'This is amazing for those super sticky labels that refuse to come cleanly off. Works on plastic, too! I poured some on the label, added a tissue on top to let it soak a bit, and then began rubbing. Eventually, the sticker became easy enough to tear off without much residue left behind. Very happy with this purchase." —PassionCatPrice: $4.48 An anti-chafing stick to soothe and moisturize sweaty areas of your body (like the inner thigh or under boob), because you should be able to enjoy a life free of irritation. Real heroes don't wear capes — they come in a tube. Promising review: 'This stuff worked like a charm on a muggy Omaha night at the zoo. Normally, I would have been chafing and finding somewhere to sit, rather than enjoying the miles of walking. I only had to reapply once in three hours. 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Plus, the formula is biodegradable and nontoxic. Promising review: "My daughter turned the shower into a crime scene by getting purple dye everywhere. I read a review from someone who used this product for just that purpose, to remove dye. I bought this, and with minimal elbow grease, it completely removed it. If it can remove dye, then who knows what else it'll clean. It's a little pricey but worth it. Try it for yourself." —TheresaPrice: $9.88 A tub storage basket to keep your kiddo's toys organized and accessible so bath time (and the cleanup afterward) can be a little less chaotic and a lot more fun. Promising review: "This thing is the best and anyone who sees it compliments it. It has openings to drain the water from the toys and I have had it for close to a year and haven't found it to grow mold! I love this so much I have it on a list of gifts to get for new parents!" —giga747"I did not buy this for a kid, I am using it to hold the shampoos and other bottles that accumulated in the tub. It's working great. It holds a lot and it's actually deep enough that they don't fall out. It's a great value at this price and doesn't look bad either." —furrypalPrice: $17.95 A dishwasher cleaner and descaler formulated with natural citric acid so it can remove the toughest gunk, hard water build-up, calcium, lime, and odor-causing residue. If you can't remember the last time your machine smelled fresh, it may be time to give this a try. Promising review: "I was close to calling a dishwasher repair company or getting a new one because the dishes were coming out spotty and a little dirty no matter what I did. I found this product online and bought it; ONE run through and the dishwasher is working like new again! I love it. There is no strong chlorine smell or anything, either. Great product! 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Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Yahoo
Indiana SAT scores tick up slightly but still trail college-ready goals
New data shows about a quarter of Indiana students who took the SAT in 2025 met college-readiness benchmarks on both the reading and writing and math portions of the exam. (Getty Images) New SAT results showed more Hoosier students meeting college-readiness benchmarks in reading, but overall scores remain low — especially in math. More than 81,000 Indiana high school students took the test in 2024-25. Most of those were juniors — students slated to graduate in spring 2026. Results showed slight improvement on the SAT this year in both the evidence-based reading and writing and math sections. In reading and writing, the share of students scoring at or above the college-ready threshold rose to 54.5%, up from 51.8% the year before and 50.5% in 2023. A greater number of students continued to score in the 'below college-ready' category for math, however. Just 25.2% of test-takers earned passing scores in 2025. About 24.5% of Indiana students who took the SAT during the last academic year met the readiness benchmark on both subject portions, according to the Indiana Department of Education. That's a 0.3% increase compared to last year, but still 4% down from 2023. 'We still have a large number of students in that below-college-ready group,' said Lynn Schemel, IDOE's chief academic officer. 'We want to move that … in the (right) direction … but we have more work to do.' The new test results were released last week and discussed by the State Board of Education. Data from the latest round of ILEARN testing was also published. State law requires IDOE to administer a national college entrance exam to high school students before graduation. The SAT includes math, reading and writing sections. The assessment, administered by the College Board, scores students as 'At College-Ready,' 'Approaching College-Ready,' or 'Below College-Ready,' depending on their performance. A student who scores 'Approaching' with one more year remaining in high school is expected to be at 'At College-Ready' by graduation. Students who score at or above the benchmark have a 75% chance of earning at least a C in their first semester of credit-bearing college courses in that subject area, IDOE officials said. As a board, we've talked a lot about what skills students need in high school. Does the SAT fit that? I think that's a conversation we'll continue to have. – Indiana Education Secretary Katie Jenner Of the 81,620 students who took the reading and writing assessment in 2025, more than half met the college-ready benchmark. About 36.4% of students were approaching a passing score, while 9.2% remained below. In math, 21.6% of students were 'approaching' college-readiness, and 53% were below the readiness benchmark. That's a decline from 2024, when roughly 52.8% of test-takers were below college-ready levels, and from 45.2% who trailed the benchmark in 2023. About 25% of students posted college-ready math scores in 2024. IDOE data indicates 30.7% of students who took the SAT were college-ready in math in 2023. '(The latest data) underscores the urgency of the work we're doing,' Schemel said, referencing new instructional resources and educational screeners designed to improve foundational math skills. The state, she noted, is currently building math support systems for students in grades K–2 and 9–12 to mirror recent literacy investments made for elementary and middle school grades. Board members acknowledged the need for additional math support, but some questioned whether the SAT is the right tool to evaluate all progress among all Indiana students, especially those not planning to attend college. 'This is a college-ready exam, and we administer it to students who aren't going to college,' said board member B.J. Watts. 'Let's be honest — it's not important to them. That doesn't mean they don't have other skills where they shine. But that's not going to show up here, at least not yet.' Indiana ILEARN scores show continued growth in math — but reading levels stay flat Indiana Education Secretary Katie Jenner echoed the need for continued discussion. 'As a board, we've talked a lot about what skills students need in high school,' Jenner said. 'Does the SAT fit that? I think that's a conversation we'll continue to have.' Education officials further pointed to a wave of reforms aimed at supporting students earlier in their education, like numeracy screeners, teacher training in evidence-based instruction methods, and math intervention plans. All of those efforts are still ramping up, Schemel said. 'We're trying to wrap our arms around the standards at the high school level now, too,' Hurst said. 'That includes what students are getting in their courses before they even get to this SAT moment.' Jenner added that SAT scores are likely to evolve more as Indiana rolls out new pathways to graduation. Under the state's new high school diploma model — which is set to take effect for all schools by 2029 — all juniors will still be required by law to take the SAT, but scores are only used toward graduation if a student chooses that option under one of the college-bound or employment-readiness tracks, or 'seals.' 'We're maximizing the four years of high school,' she said. 'Whether students pursue enrollment, enlistment or employment, our work has to prepare them for all three.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Solve the daily Crossword
Axios
18-07-2025
- Axios
ILEARN scores still stagnant, five years post-pandemic
Learning in Indiana's elementary and middle schools continues to stagnate, particularly in reading. Why it matters: Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic's onset, scores on statewide tests designed to measure students against grade-level proficiency standards in English and math have yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels, according to ILEARN results released this week by the Indiana Department of Education. Learning gaps between the highest- and lowest-performing schools persist, meaning that where a child lives can still have an outsize impact on their education. Between the lines: Scores significantly dropped from 2019 to 2021 — the first year in the pandemic that the test was given — and have stagnated since then. The state has invested heavily in new reading education strategies, trainings and materials, but scores remain flat. By the numbers: Statewide, just 31% of students passed both the English and math portions, meaning they're on track to graduate high school ready for college or a career. Overall, math scores were the bright spot, increasing 1.4 points to 42.1%, while English scores actually dipped by 0.4 points to 40.6% Reality check: Proficiency rates vary widely based on demographic factors — only 13% of Black and 18% of Hispanic students passed both portions, compared to 38% of white students. Students from low-income families were also proficient at lower rates (19%) than their peers who don't qualify for meal assistance (42%). The big picture: Performance on standardized testing is closely tied to socioeconomic and other demographic factors. Once again, districts surrounding Marion County — Brownsburg, Carmel Clay and Zionsville — were among the top-performing in the state. Zoom in: In Marion County, Speedway Schools had the highest scores of traditional districts, with nearly half of students passing both portions and 55% proficiency in English and 61% in math. Franklin, Washington and Perry townships were the only other districts to have more than 25% of students pass both exams. Indianapolis Public Schools, the largest district, posted nearly the same results as last year but in English but small a gain in math. Warren Township had the lowest scores but made one of the biggest gains in English — increasing its proficiency rate more than 2 points over the last year. It also gained more than 4 points in math. What's next: This upcoming school year will be the first that new ILEARN checkpoint exams are administered throughout the year statewide, with a shorter end-of-year assessment.
