WEDNESDAY WIRE

CALL! CALL! CALL!

It is time to CALL your house members!



Call the Indiana House Switchboard

317-232-9600 or 1-800-382-9841.

Let them know you are fed up & fired up.

NO to HB1309(Still in Committee) BEING HEARD February 14!
NO to HB1339 (Still in Committee) BEING HEARD February 14!
NO to HB1358 (Passed out of Committee)
NO to HB1338 (Passed out of Committee)

These bills are the ALEC lead GOP attempts to undercut PUBLIC Education, undermine newly elected Superintendent Ritz, and scoff at 1.3 million voters who voiced support for PUBLIC education during the Novemeber election.

HB 1309 – This bill requires the State Board of Ed to elect a vice chairperson who...may call meetings, set and amend agendas...carry out other administrative functions -- will be heard Thur, Feb. 14 in House Ed that begins at 8:30 a.m.

The "may" provision diminishes the Supt of Public Instruction's role as the Supt. is the chair of the State Bd. who may have powers usurped by a vice chair. 1.3 million Hoosiers voted Ritz into this office with the expectation that she would perform the job to which they elected her.
Contact members of the House Education Committee. Ask them to vote NO. Do it ASAP.
 

HB 1339:Author: Behning

Various education matters. Replaces references, when referring to a charter school, to the term "sponsor" with the term "authorizer". Repeals the current definition of sponsor. Provides that the department of education (department) shall keep on its Internet web site charter school page: (1) demographic and performance data required from school corporations according to each authorizer's performance framework; and (2) an annual list of all charter schools, with corresponding authorizers and the school improvement designation earned by each charter school. Provides that a virtual charter school is defined as a charter school that provides more than 90% of its instruction through virtual distance learning or online technologies. (Current law provides that a virtual charter school is a charter school that provides more than 50% of its instruction through virtual distance learning or online technologies.) Removes a requirement that the department must submit an annual report to the budget committee concerning virtual charter schools. Provides that a charter school is subject to graduation rate calculation requirements. Removes a provision that a teacher serving under a regular contract at a laboratory school who transfers to a school corporation that is a party to the agreement with the university operating the laboratory school is entitled to receive credit for the years served at the laboratory school for purposes of meeting the five year requirement for an indefinite contract. Removes a provision that a laboratory school teacher's contract with a school corporation is an indefinite contract if the teacher has served five years at a laboratory school. Provides notice procedures for the cancellation of a principal's or superintendent's contract. Provides that a principal may request a private meeting with the superintendent within five days after the principal receives notice of a contract cancellation. Provides that a superintendent may request a private meeting with the president of the governing body within five days after the principal receives notice of a contract cancellation. Provides that the superintendent or the president of the governing body shall make a written recommendation to the governing body regarding the contract cancellation. Provides that a superintendent or a principal may have a representative accompany the superintendent or principal to the private conference. Repeals a provision that provides that a teacher contract continues in force following the date of the contract's termination, until the school corporation refuses to continue the contract, the teacher resigns, or the contract is replaced. Provides that a teacher contract entered into after August 1 is void if the teacher is bound by a previous contract to teach in a public school. (Current law provides that the contract is void after August 15.) Resolves conflict in IC 20-28-9-1, which was amended by P.L.229-2011, SEC. 175 and repealed by P.L.48-2011, SEC. 39. Provides that, beginning after June 30, 2013, a teacher who does not receive a raise or increment may file a request for a private meeting with the superintendent if the teacher received a rating of improvement necessary or ineffective. Provides that, after June 30, 2013, a local salary schedule must include the salary schedule framework under which two or more of the four permissible salary factors combine to determine increases, increments, or raises for a teacher. Provides that after June 30, 2013, a school corporation's noncompliance with the salary schedule requirements must be reported by the: (1) department; (2) state board of accounts; and (3) Indiana education employment relations board (board). Provides that the establishment of a voluntary sick day bank may be collectively bargained for. Provides that certain salary reductions are not subject to collective bargaining. Makes changes to the procedure for conducting a hearing for a teacher suspended without pay. Makes changes relating to staff performance evaluations for evaluations of principals or superintendents. Provides that a charter school, a virtual charter school, or a school that participates in the choice scholarship program may not use a staff performance evaluation based on certain models. Provides that a certified employee must receive a rating of either ineffective or improvement necessary if, after completing a remediation plan, deficiencies noted in the certificated employee's evaluation are not corrected. Provides that a model evaluation plan developed by the department after January 31, 2012, must be approved by the state board and published on the department's Internet web site. Provides that a provision relating to the appointment by an exclusive representative of a percentage of teacher positions on a district-wide or school-wide committee applies to all discussion committees. Provides that with regards to collective bargaining mediation, each party shall pay its costs of mediation to the board. Removes a provision that provides that a school employer may issue tentative individual contracts if an agreement has not been reached. Provides that the duration of the right to bring suit for an unfair practice against a school employer or school employee organization is three years. Adds a provision that allows a hearing examiner or agent of the board to assign the costs of the hearing in proportion to the liability of the parties. Provides that the factfinding process in an impasse proceeding may not exceed 30 days. Reduces the time, from five years to two years, in which a person who has served as a mediator between a school corporation and an exclusive representative may serve as a factfinder in an impasse proceeding.

HB 1358 PARENT TRIGGER : Authors: Huston, Behning


 Parental initiatives for school reorganization. Establishes the following parental initiatives for school reorganization of low performing schools: (1) The conversion of an existing public school into a charter school. (2) A petition to have the state board of education consider intervention and establish a lead partner to support the operation of the school. Repeals current provisions concerning the conversion of existing public schools into charter schools.

HB 1358 PASSED House Committee, February 12!

HB 1338: Authors: Behning
Makes numerous changes to Indiana’s charter school laws, including requiring the state budget agency (under the governor’s administration) to carry out the program to identify all federal funds available for charter schools, requires the budget agency to pursue any matching federal funds for charter schools, provides that the state board of education must approve the department’s report to the budget committee pertaining to virtual charter schools, requires the budget agency to administer new charter school start up grants, and requires the budget agency to administer the charter school facilities assistance program. These functions now assigned to the budget agency and state board of education have been, to date, accomplished by the DOE.

February 5, 2013 - HB1338 passes House Ed Cmte 9-3. Bill gives Mayor Ballard broader powers and adds more charter accountability.