The state Board of Education has scheduled five public hearings for schools in Indianapolis, Gary, East Chicago and Evansville that have been placed in the lowest category of school improvement for five straight years.

Members of the Indiana board of education say leaders of Thea Bowman Academy followed all the state requirements to seek a new sponsor and were not "authorizer shopping" as they fought to stay open beyond this month. The board voted Wednesday to approve an authorizer associated with a private university to be the new sponsor of the Gary school.

Rep. Rokita, former Indiana secretary of state, proposed federal legislation last month that would tighten eligibility for free school lunch programs across the country.

For more than two hours Wednesday night, parents, students, educators and alumni testified in support of three Indianapolis Public Schools in the midst of turnaround efforts.

Public hearings will be held April 6 and 13 about the future of six Indianapolis public schools under state intervention.

Thea Bowman Leadership Academy in Gary is seeking a second chance from Indiana Charter Board after Ball State University declined to renew its charter over long-standing governance concerns. Two Indiana laws intended to prevent failing charter schools from escaping closure or accountability through finding another sponsor could now face their first test.

An Indiana education official was allowed to suggest edits and changes to a report summarizing an independent investigation into the state's ISTEP exam.

Grades approved by the board reflect changes signed into law last month. The law ensures lower ISTEP scores do not negatively impact schools during the state's transition to more rigorous college and career ready academic standards.

Public hearings are expected to start next month on the future of four long-troubled schools under state intervention.

In preliminary numbers compiled by State Board of Education staff, 17 percent of Indiana's K-12 schools will be considered failing under the state's A-F accountability system. Last year, 4 percent of schools were considered failing.