At Noblesville High School, student journalists were discouraged. They had tried for weeks to get a story about teen drug abuse published in the school newspaper without success. Administrators didn't like the story, but students couldn't understand why. At Columbus North High School, it was a different story. The newspaper staff, with the approval of the principal, was able to publish a sensitive, well-researched story about the realities of oral sex among teens.

Jarell Davenport is a three-sport athlete at Tech High School. So, he's skeptical about a new Indianapolis Public Schools proposal that could cut sports teams. "It's not fair to anybody," said Jarell, 17, who plays football, wrestles and runs track. His doubt is echoed by many IPS student-athletes. Some believe the new program could turn students away from the state's largest school district.