INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A top Republican Indiana legislator on education policy has apologized for comments suggesting Black students don’t perform better academically because they lack “respect for learning.”
House Education Committee Chairman Bob Behning of Indianapolis made the remark last week while pointing out that just 30 out of 1,000 Black students in the Indianapolis Public Schools system passed both the English and math portions of the state’s ILEARN standardized exam last year.
He said many factors could be involved, saying “poverty impacts that for sure, having a respect for learning." Behning apologized Monday in a statement to The Indianapolis Star. A leader of the Indianapolis Urban League called the remark “offensive.”
Latest Stories
-
2026 Hoosiers Vote Summit mobilizes Indiana voters ahead of midterm election
Civic leaders from across Indiana gathered Saturday morning for the 2026 Hoosiers Vote Summit, sharing strategies to empower voters and mobilize Hoosiers ahead of this year's midterm elections.
Black-owned, woman-led landscaping business creates local pathway to employment
Greene Thumb intentionally hires individuals facing barriers to employment — veterans, young people and folks with disabilities.
Residents near Eagle Creek protest proposed LEAP pipeline
Residents against the project say they are concerned about the environmental impact and the lack of transparency with the project.
14-year-old girl dies after being hit by IndyGo bus on northeast side
Police say officers responded to a report of a serious bodily injury in the 3800 block of N Post Road just after 8:40 p.m.
