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A GANNETT NEWSPAPER “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty” II COR. 3:17 CITY FINAL
✭ INDYSTAR.COM ✭ ✭ 50 CENTS ✭
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2007
2007 ISTEP RESULTS
IPS sows seeds of success
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ PASSING RATE IS UP 21% IN ’07 VS. ’06,
BUT 63% OF THE DISTRICT’S MIDDLE SCHOOLERS FAILED THE TEST
STATEWIDE ISTEP SCORES
Percentage passing both math
and English/language arts:
Students statewide continue
Grade 2005 2006 2007 to show slow improvement
3 65% 64% 63%
4 66% 66% 66% By Dan McFeely thing I can brag about.”
dan.mcfeely@indystar.com That theme echoed across
5 66% 67% 67% The yelling, the long hours, Indianapolis Public Schools,
6 66% 67% 67% his determination and tears where elementary and middle
paid off Wednesday for Princi- schools reported strong prog-
7 63% 63% 65% pal Jeffery C. White at Mar- ress this year as reforms
shall Middle School in Indian- launched by Superintendent
8 61% 60% 62% apolis. Eugene White seemed to be
9 60% 58% 59% The school saw the most taking hold. The signs of prog-
students in a decade pass ress in a district trying to curb
10 57% 57% 58% ISTEP-Plus, a 5 percentage a drain of about 1,000 students
Source: Department of Education point increase from last year, a year heartened civic leaders.
JENNIFER IMES / The Star
his first at the helm. In the middle schools, for
White takes pride in the example, 21 percent more stu-
progress but is quick to ac- dents passed both parts of the
knowledge there is more to be exam.
done. Just more than a quarter “This is very encouraging,”
of his students passed both said Roland Dorson, president
COMPLETE RESULTS parts of the exam. of the Greater Indianapolis
ON INDYSTAR.COM “I am very proud,” he said, Chamber of Commerce. “Pub-
Go to IndyStar.com/ISTEP and search DANESE KENON / The Star “but the school’s final numbers lic education is critical to hav-
our online database to find out how QUALIFIED JOY: Jeffery C. White, principal of John Marshall Middle School, says he’s proud that a do not give us room to cel- ing a prepared work force, and
your child’s school performed higher percentage of his students passed ISTEP this fall, but he’s not ready to brag about the numbers. ebrate. It’s up, but we want
on the 2007 ISTEP exam. Go to Indystar.com/multimedia to see more of White’s reaction to his students’ ISTEP progress. 75 percent, so this is not some- See ISTEP, Page A12
IN TODAY’S STAR Hoosiers to start lining up for insurance
Advocates for low-income residents praise HOW MUCH IT COSTS
Indiana health program that starts Jan. 1
FAMILY OF 4
By Shari Rudavsky “There have been times when SINGLE ($40,000
shari.rudavsky@indystar.com I’ve put off going to the doctor ($20,000 ANNUAL
Thousands of uninsured because I just really didn’t have ANNUAL INCOME) INCOME)
adults in Indiana will have ac- the money to go,” said Mayes,
Must make payment Must make a payment
cess to health insurance Jan 1 whose husband and child re-
of $17 a month, not to exceed of $85 a month, not to exceed
through a new government- ceive Medicaid, a state health
5 percent of gross income. 5 percent of gross income.
backed program hailed as the insurance program for pregnant
most significant expansion of or disabled adults and poor chil-
health coverage in recent years. dren. Only co-pay is $25 for non-emergency use of an emergency
Sheryl Mayes, 44, already has The state’s new Healthy Indi- department.
FRANK ESPICH / The Star
her application. Despite the fact ana Plan is health insurance for First $1,100 in medical expenses would be paid for out of partici-
that she struggles with asthma, low-income adults like Mayes pant’s monthly payments plus contributions from the state. Employers
THERE’S A NEW SHOW IN TOWN the Eastside Indianapolis
woman hasn’t had health insur-
who don’t have other insurance can contribute if they wish.
The 2,400-seat Castleton Square 14 theater opens Friday. ance for 11 years. See Insurance, Page A13 INSIDE: Who is eligible, what’s covered and how to apply, Page A13
It will be the area’s second all-digital projection cinema. C1
PRIVATE FIRM BUYING LAFAYETTE SQUARE
New owners of the 39-year-old Northwestside mall are
known for giving old properties completely new looks. C1 Ex-Marine to take oath at War Memorial
By Brendan O’Shaughnessy Newly elected City-County rium and the Shrine Room.
brendan.oshaughnessy@indystar.com Mayor-elect Council members also will be Ballard intends to go to the
STARTING SUNDAY Mayor-elect Greg Ballard, a Greg Ballard invited to take their oaths at the City-County Building after the
former Marine, has decided he will be sworn event. ceremony and begin moving
will take the oath of office at the into office at Cochran said the mayor-elect into the mayor’s office on the
SPIRIT OF THE 76 T H Indiana War Memorial on New
Year’s Day.
1 p.m. on New
Year’s Day.
picked the memorial in part be-
cause he wants to honor those
25th floor.
Cochran said a celebratory
>> C A L L E D T O S E R V I C E << The swearing-in ceremony is fighting in the war in Iraq. event, possibly an inauguration
In the state’s largest call-up since World War II, 3,400 Indiana scheduled for 1 p.m. and will be The memorial, 431 N. Merid- party, is being planned for the
National Guard troops will head to Iraq early next year. The Star open to the first 1,000 people. ian St., hosts about 400 events a third week in January, possibly
begins its coverage of the one-year deployment of the 76th Brigade John Cochran, the director of Certo during the campaign, and year, including weddings, birth- Jan. 19. That event would serve
on Sunday, with the first of four profiles of soldiers. Others will run Ballard’s transition, said Marion the newly appointed judge day parties, business events and, as a fundraiser for a charitable
on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Look for the profiles in Superior Court Judge David opened his arms to help the un- beginning last month, military cause, he said.
The Star and go to IndyStar.com for accompanying Certo will administer the oath. derfinanced and little-known funerals. It includes the 500- ✭ Call Star reporter Brendan
videos and photo galleries. Cochran said Ballard met challenger. seat General Pershing Audito- O’Shaughnessy at (317) 444-2751.
WEATHER INDEX
Chance of rain and Comics ...................E4 Metro & State ..B1-6 Puzzles ..................E6 @INDYSTAR.COM
snow early. Editorials.............A14 Movies ...................E5 Scoreboard ............D7 Check online for alerts about
Full forecast, C4 Copyright 2007 Indiana Living ....E1-8 Obituaries ..........B3-5 Star Classifieds .F1-6 accidents and other traffic problems.
Low 33 High 37 The Star Lotteries................A2 Public notices ........F4 Television ..............E7
On the 4th Day 4 Wines
under
of Christmas brings to you... $10

2. A12 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2007 3RD From Page One THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR WWW.INDYSTAR.COM
ISTEP WHAT IS ISTEP?
Indiana Statewide Testing
◆ IPS officials credit changes for Educational Progress-Plus
for improvements in scores. is a mandatory annual exam
given to students in all public
From A1
and private schools that have
we need people who can enter been accredited by the state.
ready to meet the needs of a 21st- Scores are used to determine
century economy.” whether a school met its aca-
Greg Ballard, the Republican demic goals, called adequate
who will succeed Indianapolis yearly progress. The scores
Mayor Bart Peterson next month, also are used to create a list of
also praised the results. schools that need to improve
“I am particularly impressed or face sanctions.
with the progress made in the In- The test is given to stu-
dianapolis Public Schools,” he dents in Grades 3-10. Test
said in a prepared statement. “I
scores were sent home to par-
applaud the leadership of Super-
intendent White and all those ents this month.
who educate our children.”
WHAT’S THE
Indiana improvement
BOTTOM LINE?
Statewide results showed a Hoosier students showed
slight uptick across the board. some improvements in English
Overall, 64.7 percent of Hoo- and math scores on statewide
sier students in Grades 3-10
exams taken this fall, accord-
passed both the math and lan-
guage arts portions of the Indiana ing to data released Wednes-
Statewide Testing for Educa- day by the Indiana Department
tional Progress-Plus. Higher per- of Education.
centages passed one or the other:
74 percent passed math, 71 per- IMPROVING: Shannon Robinson is a seventh-grader at Marshall Middle School. Students could get new shoes or Pacers tickets for passing ISTEP.
DANESE KENON / The Star
WHY IT MATTERS
cent language arts.
That continued a gradual, dec- Go to IndyStar.com/ graders climbed nine percentage
TO YOU
adelong increase in ISTEP re- HOW SOME SCHOOLS FARED Marshall to experience points in math, seven in English.
A federal education law re-
quires every student to pass
sults, according to the state, with Success on statewide exams varied across Indiana. The Star’s special report Still, just 37 percent of IPS
percentages climbing from a low on Marshall Middle School and middle school students passed statewide exams by 2013. Bet-
of 56.5 percent in 1997. TOP FIVE STATEWIDE Total Total both sections of the test. ter-educated students, experts
Principal Jeffery C. White’s
“The good news is . . . we have 2007 2006 students passing Back at Marshall, Jeffery say, lead to a work force with
good news,” said Superintendent struggles to improve student
rank rank School system County tested both Percent White walks the halls with a big higher skills and help lure
of Public Instruction Suellen performance.
smile, calling out to students by businesses and industry to the
Reed. 1 4 Signature School Vanderburgh 167 159 95.2%
name and constantly pushing state. But gains have come
In IPS, elementary and middle 2 1 Carmel Clay Schools Hamilton 9,370 8,368 89.3% them to do better — even if it slowly, and state education of-
schools armed with a mix of 3 2 West Lafayette Tippecanoe 1,280 1,143 89.3% takes a little bribery. ficials admit improvement isn’t
changes — new uniforms, zero “Last year, we had three fights
Community Schools during the test, and it caused total To encourage better scores, where they want it to be.
tolerance for disruptions, volunteers doled out snacks and Every 1 percentage point in-
monthly testing to target prob- 4 3 Zionsville Boone 3,337 2,964 88.8% chaos,” he said. “This year, there
Community Schools were no fights.” drinks between the tests. White crease represents about 800
lems and mandatory lesson plans used some new community con-
for teachers — improved across 5 5 Hamilton Hamilton 10,043 8,589 85.5% And the numbers are looking more students passing the
better: 42 percent of eighth- nections to reward students who exam, officials say. Business
the board in both subjects. Southeastern Schools passed. New shoes for kids, drink
“It’s how we look, how we act graders passed the math portion leaders think schools can and
BOTTOM FIVE STATEWIDE Total Total of the ISTEP, a dramatic im- coolers for teachers and, for must do better.
and how we teach and learn,” some, tickets to an NBA game.
said IPS School Board President 2007 students passing provement from the 26 percent The response of parents is
who passed in 2003. “Two seats on the floor,” ex-
Mary Busch. “The dress code has rank School system County tested both Percent mixed, with some saying too
claimed 15-year-old Wendell
made a big difference in the be- 328 Timothy L. Johnson Allen 59 12 20.3% Good old-fashioned classroom Sherron, an eighth-grader who much emphasis is placed on
havior and focus of our children.” Academy
work is also a key factor. won Pacers tickets from FedEx the test, which can take away
The district’s high schools, “I think our students are tak- for passing his test. from innovative lessons in the
however, continued to struggle, 329 Renaissance Academy LaPorte 58 10 17.2% ing this serious because our Raijon Parker, 14, is eagerly classroom.
with little more than a quarter of Charter teachers and administrators are waiting for his new shoes.
all 10th-graders passing the math
exam and a third passing English.
330 Indianapolis Metropolitan Marion
High School
167 23 13.8% taking it serious,” said Superin-
tendent White.
“I studied more than I usually WHAT’S NEXT
do,” he said. Students will take ISTEP
331 21st Century Charter Lake 240 30 12.5% “We test every 41⁄2 weeks, and As Marshall begins the trans-
Skepticism waning that has impressed upon them tests in the spring beginning in
School of Gary formation into a junior-senior 2009. That means that in the
The changes launched since 332 Campagna Academy Lake 65 7 10.8%
that it is important how you per- high school under a districtwide
form and that you pay attention.” 2008-09 school year, students
White became superintendent in Charter School overhaul, the principal is count- will take the exam in both the
2005 have not been easy. Many At the district’s nine middle ing on winning attitudes like that.
Source: Star analysis of Indiana Department of Education data by Mark Nichols schools, 63 percent of seventh- fall and spring as schools make
people fought the school dress “It’s like going from Miami to
graders passed the math test, up the adjustment.
code, and parents were shocked EMILY KUZNIAR / The Star Tacoma, Washington,” White
when students were sent home from 52.6 percent a year ago. In said. “A long journey . . . and
for improper dress infractions as not convinced that the changes dress code,” she said. “We don’t the same grade, 48 percent we’ve made it to Jacksonville. FIND OUT MORE
minor as a missing belt. would have much of an impact. have near the disciplinary prob- passed language arts, up from “But we’re still in Florida.” Detailed ISTEP information
Even a veteran teacher such as With Wednesday’s results, she lems we used to have.” 42.5 percent. ✭ Call Star reporter Dan McFeely is available at IndyStar.com.
Marshall’s Nancy Scott, who has became a believer. Principal White (no relation to Passing rates for eighth- at (317) 444-6253.
worked for 26 years in IPS, was “I see a difference with the the superintendent) agreed.
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