Bill to improve civic engagement heads to Senate

STATEHOUSE — The Indiana House of Representatives has voted in support of legislation that would incorporate civics education into Hoosier students’ middle school curriculum

State Rep. Chris May (R-Bedford), who supported the bill, said the proposal would require students to take at least one semester of a civics course in Grades 6, 7 or 8.

“Having an understanding and appreciation of how our government works, as well as the rights all Hoosiers and Americans are granted, is essential to a healthy and well-functioning democracy,” May said. “We must ensure Hoosiers of all ages take pride and ownership in maintaining a government that represents everyone.”

House Bill 1384 would task the Indiana Department of Education and State Board of Education to develop standards for civics education.

According to May, the legislation comes out of the Civic Education Task Force, which was responsible for specific, actionable, recommendations based on research and ideas from around the country and state.

Brown County Schools Superintendent Laura Hammack sat on that task force. It was chaired by the lieutenant governor and facilitated by the Indiana Bar Foundation.

“It was a thrill to work collaboratively with task force members to set forth a vision for advancing civic education for our Hoosier youth,” Hammack wrote in a recent Superintendent’s Corner column. “It is such an exciting time for civics education in our state. The work of the task force, evidenced through applicable policy, positions Indiana as a national leader in advancing our democracy.”

House Bill 1384 now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

Free virtual tutoring available for local students

Free reading and math support is available online again this spring for students in Grades 2 to 11 via the Indiana University/Brown County tutoring program.

IU students are available to tutor children via Zoom. All tutors have background checks, have been trained via IU’s Programs Involving Children (PIC) and must follow strict IU rules for working with children over the internet.

Sessions are one hour on Zoom and monitored by Brown County Literacy Coalition volunteers. Times available are between 3 and 8 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.

Email [email protected] for more information.

CRC class registration, job help available

The Career Resource Center, 246 E. Main St., is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. The center is closed on Fridays and the weekends.

Classes for certified nursing assistant certification are meeting now, having begun on Feb. 16. There will be three weeks of coursework at the CRC and six weeks of clinicals at Brown County Health and Living. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.

Certified clinical medical assistant (CCMA) courses will begin March 2. The course is 14 weeks, meeting Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

Master electrician classes will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. beginning March 23. The course is 12 weeks.

New training programs in phlebotomy certification and dental assistant certification will begin in 2021.

One-hour SCORE webinar and business consultations are available by phone and email. Call 812-988-5880 to schedule an appointment. For SCORE webinars, visit score.org/live-webinars.

The Work One office is open for appointments only on Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Connect online at in.gov/dwd/19.htm or watch the DWD Video Vault at in.gov/dwd/3436.htm.

The following resources also are available at the CRC:

• Virtual and distance learning for high school equivalency.
• Device and WiFi access
• Printing, copying and faxing
• Resume help
• Career coaching
• Interviewing assistance
• Personal financial consulting

The CRC is limiting the number of people in the building and following all social distancing guidelines including face mask usage. The CRC is not supplying masks; patrons must bring their own.

Call 812-988-5880 for more information.

Homework Helpline available for math, science

TERRE HAUTE — Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s free AskRose homework helpline can help middle school and high school students understand their math and science homework.

Rose-Hulman students are available Sundays through Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m. during the school year to help youth in Grades 6 through 12. Connections can be made at 877-ASK-ROSE (877-275-7673) or the AskRose website, AskRose.org. Additional afternoon hours may be available depending upon tutors’ availability.

Rather than give students the answers, tutors guide students through homework problems to help them better understand math and science concepts. Student privacy is always protected, and students are never asked for their last name or telephone number.

Approximately 30 tutors are available each night.

The service, certified by the National Tutoring Association, has conducted more than 700,000 tutoring sessions since starting in 1991. AskRose.org also offers more than 500 resources available through videos and downloadable references.

All AskRose services are available at no cost to students and parents through a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant and financial assistance from Rose-Hulman.

Purdue Extension offers free financial program

Purdue Extension Health and Human Sciences has launched a free online program for anyone seeking information on money management best practices and financial control.

The “Where Does Your Money Go?” online program will guide participants through the creation of their spending-savings plan and provide resources for them to use in their own lives. The six-module course includes videos, interactive activities, self-assessments and downloadable spending tracking forms.

The program can be completed at the viewer’s convenience. Participants should allow approximately four to six weeks to do all activities.

After completion of the course, participants will understand how current money management practices affect financial security, how to establish good financial management practices, and new habits that create personal financial security. Some lessons include identifying spending leaks, categorizing needs vs. wants, tracking expenses and establishing written financial goals.

To register, go to https://bit.ly/WDYMGOnlineRegistrationLink.

Enrollment open for 21st Century Scholars

Applications for the 21st Century Scholar program are being accepted. The program offers income-eligible Hoosier students up to four years of paid tuition at an eligible Indiana college or university after they graduate from high school, dependent upon financial need.

In middle school and high school, scholars are connected to programs and resources the help them stay on track for college and career success.

Applications must be received by June 30 of the student’s eighth-grade year. Scholars pledge to graduate with a Core 40 diploma and cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.5. They also pledge to abstain from illegal drugs and alcohol and illegal activities.

For more information on requirements for the program, visit scholars.in.gov.