Can You Say Nepotism?

Let us start with a simple definition of the term.

nep·o·tism / ˈnepəˌtizəm/
noun
the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.

synonyms:favoritism, preferential treatment, the old boy network, looking after one's own, bias, partiality, partisanship

"hiring my daughter was not nepotism—it was just good business"

Now, lets look at Indiana's "nepotism law" effective July 1 2012.

Ind. Code § 4-15-7-1 : Indiana Code - Section 4-15-7-1: Nepotism

(a) No person being related to any member of any state board or commission, or to the head of any state office or department or institution, as father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, a husband or wife, son or daughter, son-in-law or daughter-in-law, niece or nephew, shall be eligible to any position in any such state board, commission, office, or department or institution, as the case may be, nor shall any such relative be entitled to receive any compensation for his or her services out of any appropriation provided by law.

(b) This section shall not apply if such person has been employed in the same position in such office or department or institution for at least twelve (12) consecutive months immediately preceding the appointment of his relative as a board member or head of such office, department, or institution.

(c) This section does not apply to the authority of the board of trustees of a state educational institution to employ any person the board considers necessary under IC 21-38-3-1.

(d) No persons related as father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, husband, wife, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, niece, or nephew may be placed in a direct supervisory-subordinate relationship.

(Formerly: Acts 1941, c.16, s.1; Acts 1961, c.8, s.1.) As amended by Acts 1982, P.L.23, SEC.35; P.L.36-1995, SEC.1; P.L.2-2007, SEC.44; P.L.3-2008, SEC.8.

With this background information, let's take a look at the reappointment of Sarah O'Brien to the Indiana State Board of Education and her recent election as the board's Vice-Chair.  How does this appointment and Vice-Chair position relate to a possible violation of this "nepotism" law, along with a variety of potential ethics violations?  Mrs. O'Brien isn't just a 4th grade teacher from Avon who, as a Republican, was appointed to the SBOE and recently reappointed after legislative changes to the boards structure, she is also the daughter of Republican State Representative Bill Fine of Munster.  This is where the possible violation occurs.  Representative Fine is a Republican member of the House Education Committee who pushed the passage of legislation that changed the structure of the SBOE and co-authored key language that created the Vice-Chair position to share powers with the Elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz.

With the passage of this legislation, Governor Pence re-appointed O'Brien to the Board and set up her opportunity to be elected as Vice-Chair.   This selection was rumored before the SBOE met for their restructuring meeting.  The "election" of O'Brien appears to have been a done deal as part of Pence's plan when he made his recent appointments and refused to reappoint certain members who might have been more viable possibilities to be named Vice-Chair.

This may not be a clear violation of Indiana Law, but it appears to set up potential questions regarding "nepotism", board appointments, committee selections, and legislative ethics.

Indiana voters need to be vigilant in monitoring recent SBOE actions, the Governor's continued education agenda, and the co-mingling of legislators and appointed board members.  Raise questions, raise your voices, and demand transparency in all aspects of government activity.  Most importantly,  voters in Indiana need to get to the polls and vote to save our PUBLIC schools from the continued destruction and privatization planned by Pence and his wealthy corporate "reform" supporters.

Indiana's PUBLIC School Teachers "Snubbed" by Governor Pence?

Was there an intentional "snub" of Hoosier educators tonight?

Did any one notice the "snub" of 40 thousand plus educators tonight as ISTA appeared absent during Governor Pence's State of the State Address? Hoosier Voices for Public Education founder, Philip Arnold, did. He posed the following question to ISTA President, Teresa Meredith, after the address.

"Where was ISTA tonight, didn't the Governor invite the leaders of the mass majority of Indiana's educators?"

President Meredith replied, "I was not invited, however ISTA and its members are committed to making sure our voices are heard this session, on behalf of our colleagues and all of the students we serve every day."

With so much emphasis coming out early in the new session regarding teachers, attacks on PUBLIC schools, increased high-stakes testing, further expanding vouchers, funneling more tax payer monies to charters, and the attempts to dismantle the DOE by removing powers of elected Superintendent Glenda Ritz, shouldn't educators have been at the table? Shouldn’t the ones who are in the trenches daily have been represented in this process. Was this an intentional snub by the Governor to appease the Koch brothers, the tea party, and wealthy campaign contribtors to pad the coffers for the 2016 bid for the White House?

It is time Hoosiers raise their voices as they did in 2012 and prove the value of our PUBLIC schools by standing up and being counted once again. It is time to call legislators non-stop and demand our teachers, their representatives, and those who support our PUBLIC school children be invited back to the table and given a role in making realistic efforts to see our children into a successful future.

 

Vic’s Statehouse Notes #180 – July 8, 2014

Dear Friends,

The banned metrics of measuring student growth by comparisons with peers are back again. Despite a law getting rid of them, the State Board will vote on a resolution tomorrow to use them another year.

HEA 1427 was passed by the Indiana General Assembly in 2013 saying that the A-F system in Indiana “may not be based on a measurement of student performance or growth compared with peers.” This culminated a three year effort to fix the flawed A-F system by rejecting the use of bell curve statistics in assessing student growth and by measuring the growth of students against fixed criteria.

Now, a resolution brought by State Board member Brad Oliver is on the July 9th State Board agenda which, among other topics, would use peer comparisons to measure growth again in 2014-15.

It is as if the General Assembly didn’t pass HEA 1427 at all. How can the State Board continue to ignore the law?

I urge you to contact State Board members before their July 9th meeting to say that the “Resolution Regarding ESEA Waiver Compliance” is wrong on growth and should be withdrawn.

Evading the Law 

I and others have been campaigning against the unfairness of judging growth through comparisons to statewide peers since 2011. I rejoiced when the Indiana General Assembly passed the following language in 2013 in HEA 1427, Section 5:

“Not later than November 15, 2013, the state board shall establish new categories or designations of school performance under the requirements of this chapter to replace 511 IAC 6.2-6. The new standards of assessing school performance:
(1) must be based on a measurement of individual student academic performance and growth to proficiency; and
(2) may not be based on a measurement of student performance or growth compared with peers.
511 IAC 6.2-6 is void on the effective date of the emergency or final rules adopted under this section.”

I thought the law would actually be implemented, but state board members have resisted. State Board Secretary Dan Elsener has stated many times in meetings his support of the current system that the General Assembly tried to void. Now the Oliver resolution breathes more life into the flawed growth measure using the following language: (this is but a small part of the resolution with many controversial points)

“WHEREAS, Dr. Damian Betebenner, an associate at The National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment in Dover, New Hampshire, who advised Indiana on the creation of the Indiana Growth Model, and who is under contract with the SBOE to advise on modifications to the state’s A-F school accountability system, has found that growth may be calculated utilizing data from the2014-2015 ISTEP+ assessment using an equi-percentile concordance analysis that will be both valid and reliable.
Per SBOE regulation, 511 IAC 6.2-6 shall be followed for the A-F School Accountability System for federal and state accountability purposes;Growth in 2014-15 shall be calculated according to the methodology recommended by Dr. Damian Betebenner and approved by the SBOE;”Dr. Betebenner has described in a report that his recommendation is based on Student Growth Percentiles, the same methodology Dr. Bennett put in the A-F system that the General Assembly tried to void due to the peer comparisons used.

Dr. Betebenner devised the system that the General Assembly rejected. Of course he is going to say that it is just fine.

This resolution shows that the State Board has made no progress in getting Indiana to criterion-referenced comparisons for growth as the General Assembly asked for and as we all should ask for.

Send a Message

I urge you to send a message today to State Board members with a copy to your legislators. The message is that the “Resolution Regarding ESEA Waiver Compliance” has not been vetted and should be withdrawn. It tries to reverse the General Assembly’s action in HEA 1427 to remove peer comparisons from Indiana’s growth model.

The entire proposed resolution with all of its controversies can be seen on this link:

http://in.gov/sboe/files/2014-07-09_Resolution_-_ESEA_Waiver.pdf

It is astonishing that the State Board is ignoring the call for fair comparisons in Indiana’s growth model. The growth of every student should be measured based on fixed criterion measures, not on Student Growth Percentiles or any other metric where growth can vary based on how peers across the state perform. 

Your messages make a big difference. Thanks for participating! Please keep up your steadfast support of fair metrics to judge the performance of public schools! 

Best wishes,

Vic Smith

ICPE has worked since 2011 to support public education in the Statehouse and oppose the privatization of schools. The new ICPE membership year began July 1, 2014 and extends through June 30, 2015. We need your membership to help pay the bills for ICPE lobbying efforts. It is time for all of our supporters to renew for the new membership year. I urge you to go to our website today to renew your membership. Thank you!

We must raise additional funds for the 2015 session. We need additional members and additional donations. We need your help and the help of your colleagues who support public education! Please pass the word!

Go to www.icpe2011.com for membership and renewal information and for full information on ICPE efforts on behalf of public education. Thanks!

Some readers have asked about my background in Indiana public schools. Thanks for asking! Here is a brief bio:

I am a lifelong Hoosier and began teaching in 1969. I served as a social studies teacher, curriculum developer, state research and evaluation consultant, state social studies consultant, district social studies supervisor, assistant principal, principal, educational association staff member, and adjunct university professor. I worked for Garrett-Keyser-Butler Schools, the Indiana University Social Studies Development Center, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indianapolis Public Schools, IUPUI, and the Indiana Urban Schools Association, from which I retired as Associate Director in 2009. I hold three degrees: B.A. in Ed., Ball State University, 1969; M.S. in Ed., Indiana University, 1972; and Ed.D., Indiana University, 1977, along with a Teacher’s Life License and a Superintendent’s License, 1998.

TIME TO PREPARE FOR 2014, 2016, AND BEYOND

Remember November 2012? Well it is time to start preparing for the 2014 election cycle. Together we crossed party lines to vote for Glenda Ritz. We must do it again to vote for PUBLIC education. We must identify pro-PUBLIC education candidates for 2014 and look toward even bigger changes in 2016. True change cannot be made by just electing Glenda Ritz. She needs support from the legislature and the Governor's office to fully support our PUBLIC schools. Let's once again work together to elect representatives who will fully support our children's public education in Indiana.

TUESDAY TATTLER - ISTEP+ REVIEW

Yesterday, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz announced that the Department of Education has hired the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment (NCIEA) to determine whether testing interruptions experienced by students invalidated high stakes ISTEP+ test scores.

“These interruptions were simply unacceptable,” Ritz said. “Because the stakes of this test are so high, the results must be beyond reproach.”

Ritz said she will suggest districts put less weight on ISTEP scores in teacher evaluations than they otherwise would have.

"I'm hoping Indiana wants to reduce the high stakes attached to this test,” she added.

The Tattler's opinion is that the list if kids affected was incomplete. Testing company CTB/McGraw Hill says more than 78,200 students had their exams disrupted.  There are reports, by educators and administrators, where entire classes were briefly interrupted and such classes and students are not showing up on the DOE list.  These students were also adversely affected when their schedules were changed at the last minute, testing days delayed, testing spread out over three weeks, etc. Neither students nor patents knew when their testing would take place for sure, and it prolonged and added stress to all the students lives.  Will the NCIEA investigation report show all of this? 

High stakes testing has become the reformer's dream to destroy public education once and for all.  Testing companies and textbook publishers have made millions off of our children through the development of flawed tests and unnecessary standards.  CTB/McGraw Hill made out like bandits thanks to former state superintendent Tony Bennet's contract for ISTEP+.  Now, the question is, will they be responsible for footing any of the $53,000 bill for this independent review?

In November we elected Glenda Ritz to slow the wave of reform and turn the tide of destruction.  She has shown time and again to be in tune to the needs of Indiana's public school students, parents, and teachers.  We must hold onto the hope that,  with these adverse situations, she will continue to do what she was elected to do and save our public schools from total destruction at the hands of high
stakes testing, arrogant legislators, and those dastardly education "reformers".  While we have put our confidence in her abilities, we must also continue to question and seek answers.   

Ritz herself stated, "Keep in mind that students were not interrupted in their entire testing. They were interrupted in perhaps a test session or two, and much of the data on their test will be accurate. I do think it’s valuable for students to see it, parents to see it, and for teachers to see it." 

Just what that means is not certain, but the Tattler believes that this years ISTEP+ test results are all tainted in some way and the only valid means of handling them is to "punt", disregard the results statewide, and hope for a better situation as the DOE irons out the issues. Just calling for an independent review is not enough, we must continue to be diligent in seeking answers and in making certain that our public education system remains intact for our children.

Grassroots - Using Social Media to Move Mountains

So, when I was asked to speak at the Occupy DOE 2.0 rally in Washington, D.C., I was surprised, honored, flattered, and horrified.  When I agreed to speak, I was excited and nervous that what I  had to say wouldn't matter much to those who would be listening.  As I outlined my rally "speech", I began to look back at what had been accomplished through our Indiana grassroots movement and saw that we have much to share with the nation about moving the mountains that stand to destroy our beloved PUBLIC schools.  I prepared myself to make the trip to the rally and speak on the DOE steps to motivate and inspire others to become the action necessary to begin to move others to stand up for PUBLIC education.  Unfortunately, as the time drew closer to venture to the rally, I found myself facing a schedule conflict. My wonderful partner decided we should surprise my 12 year old twins with a Spring Break trip to Florida. As much as I was prepared for DC, I most definitely had to choose family first.  So, while my Public education supporting friends and fellow rally speakers will be expressing their passionate views and amazing a difference for our PUBLIC schools, I will be sending my thoughts and energy across the miles in hopes that others become as passionate and emboldened by what they have to deliver to the crowds.  I wish to thank Peggy Robertson for thinking of me and inviting me to speak.  I thank all who will speak for their undying commitment to all of our children and our public education system.  Below, please read the text notes of the speech I would have delivered had I been able to stand on the DOE steps and speak to all who cared to hear.

Grassroots - Using Social Media to Move Mountains

Today, I stand before you as a veteran teacher with 20 years of classroom experience in PUBLIC education.  Yes, I am "only" a teacher, but I am a teacher who has a passion for PUBLIC education.  

I often wonder how  one voice could multiply to thousands to make a difference.  I am not taking credit as that voice, but as one of the many voices seeking change.  I often wonder how I got to the point of becoming an "activist".  In reflection, I guess I have always been an "activist-in-waiting".

So, I created a Facebook page in 2010 as way to vent my anger and frustration with the direction "reformers" were taking public education in Indiana.  I began to seek ideas and information for ending Tony Bennet's reign of terror as he shoved the reforms of Mitch Daniels and Jeb Bush down the throats of Hoosier educators and public school children.  Soon others began to "like" the page to share their personal frustrations and their passion for PUBLIC education.  It was just a matter of time when others created pages along same lines to seek changes in the reforms and to push for our schools to be returned to the public.  Thus, a movement was born.  A movement that started at the base of grassroots and moved to play a surprising upset role in the 2012 Indiana general election.  Indiana's GOP stronghold received a huge blow when our grassroots effort produced upset Democratic winner Glenda Ritz, and defeated education reform's "golden boy".  the rest is history.  Glenda Ritz has taken over the Indiana DOE as Indiana's elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Tony Bennett has been relocated to Florida, where he is looking to continue his destructive ways on another state's public schools.

So how do you turn one voice into a movement? The steps are easy, the process face paced, the stress level high, but the reward can be the ultimate in satisfaction.  Start with a clear purpose that is grounded in passion.  Keep yourself motivated by using that passion as the guide by which you pursue your goals.  Motivate others to take up the cause using their passion.  Then work together to continually motivate one another to push onward toward the goals.  Use the motivating factors of anger, frustration, fear, and excitement to grow involvement and dedication to the cause.  

Focus on your goal at all times.  At times the goal will appear within reach, then it will seem to move further away.  Do not ever give up and think the mountain is too large.  You must focus on the effort to move the mountain and seek ways to turn the mountain back into a mole hill.  As you build your base and distribute information you need to view all information as valuable.  "Borrow" information from others who share the same goal.  Share information whenever and wherever you have the means and access.  Continue to work together.  Do not let the opponent trap you into arguing amongst other cause supporters.  Be factual and direct in delivery.  Know your audience and their level of passion and then adjust your content as the audience dictates.

As you set out to establish your own social media "cause", there are important decisions to be made.  

1.  Decide when to start and when to share pertinent information.

2. Decide where you will share your information (your own page or others).

3. Decide why you will share the information you will share (motivator).

4. Decide how you will share the information (text, pictures, blog, etc.).

Do not get caught up in trying to answer your critics.  Remain focused on your purpose and avoid arguing as you "stir the pot". You must embrace the fact that you are now an advocate for something.  You are becoming an activist for a cause.  Whatever that cause is, be willing to give your full effort and continue to see things through to completion, or to a change in mission to further carry your torch to the next mountain.

Friends, fellow activists, we are at an important point in our history.  We have decided to no longer sit back and watch our elected officials and their corporate cronies dismantle our PUBLIC schools for private profit.  It is time to take your own grassroots campaign to the next level.  Join the social media revolution and use social media to move mountains for future generations.

 

Legislative Lunchbox v. 9

"Do legislators deserve the same apples teachers get for their efforts in education? Every Friday, "The Hoosier Mom on Politics" makes that decision, giving two legislators a good or bad apple, depending on their support of Public Education and Indiana’s children. Check back every Friday at lunchtime to see what the Hoosier Mom packs in the Legislator Lunchbox for the week!

For this post of the “Legislative Lunchbox”, I chose to pack a lunch for State Senator Sue Errington (D-Muncie) and, once again, for State Representative Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis).

Sue Errington received a good apple today for her comments regarding Senate Bill 1 that would require armed personnel in every Indiana School. Errington's concern, not only for the hasty process in which this bill originated, but also for the "one-size fits all" mentality to School Security shows wisdom and foresight that is necessary to produce quality legislation. It is imperative to acknowledge that I and most other Hoosiers are exceptionally focused on the need for our PUBLIC schools to be a safe place for children and staff. Educational excellence can not be achieved if children, parents, teachers, and others are constantly fearful for their safety. A safe school environment is a learning school environment. With that in mind, there are two key points that Sue Errington knew instinctively about this bill:

1. Armed School Security does not increase safety at all
2. Armed School Security has the opposite effect on student's perceptions of feeling safe at school

There is a robust body of peer-reviewed research-based evidence that supports these two key points. The National Association of School Psychologists compiled this body within a month of the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in CT. Their report titled Research On School Security: Impact Of Security Measures On Students (click the report title to link directly) provides excellent information that our legislators should consider prior to increasing tax payer spending in vain. While the intention of increasing school security is noble, the method of adding armed guards in schools is short-sighted, wasteful, and counter to the intended results. Thank you Sue Errington for possessing the instinctual wisdom on this important issue and for your courage to stand-up for what is right for Hoosier kids.

Once again, I have to pack a bad apple for Bob Behning. If this continues, I may personally visit the Statehouse to congratulate him on being the most ideologically obtuse Representative in Indiana. Mr. Behning - can you please begin to listen to reason starting with this post? The amendments added to SB 493 (a bill that would provide grant funding assistance for schools deemed in excellent standing by the Department of Education) threaten to kill the whole bill. From now until the end of this legislative session, I am calling these amendments the "Zombie Reform Amendments" as they already died a slow and unbecoming death in HB 1337. Why is it necessary to resurrect garbage legislation from the dead? I mean - do you just enjoy wasting everyone's time and energy - even more so - taxpayer resources? Or maybe you just aren't a very good listener? One of the things that most kid's learn in Kindergarten is how to get along with their peers. When your peers, your constituents, and Hoosiers as a whole are telling you "NO! We don't support this", you should listen and stop trying to ram this garbage legislation through. We actually WANT the Department of Education to make decisions on education standards and accountability  - not politicians. You need to stop this blatant power grab from the DOE just because you don't want to get along with the State Superintendent. Now, I know that you have to fill your campaign war chest and that A.L.E.C. has helped you out in that regard. But it is high-time for you to put aside your blatant political opportunism and do what is right for Hoosiers. Start listening please, and try to get along with your peers. I would prefer to never have to give you a bad apple again.

The Hoosier Mom hopes all the readers will spread the word about the Legislative Lunchbox. Feel free to email me with suggestions for next week’s lunch: for whom should I pack lunch and why?

WEDNESDAY WIRE

Spring Break is over and, as I journey back to Indiana from sunny Daytona Beach, Florida and review the week's political happenings so far, I write to remind all readers how we accomplished our goal in November and what we must do now to continue that success.

We did not elect Glenda Ritz by sitting idly by and watching others take on the task alone.  Nor did we let our opponents go unnoticed for their attempts to destroy our PUBLIC schools.  No, we worked together to turn a grassroots campaign into a nationally historic election event.  It is now time for our legislators to be reminded of this accomplishment.  They continue to be hell bent on ignoring the voices of the voters and pushing through legislation to further destroy and deplete public schools across the state.  

The passage of HB 1003 to the full senate is just one clear attempt by our elected officials to take more public tax money and fund their own pockets in the form of private and charter schools.  Do not be fooled one minute that they are simply doing this for those who "seek" to transfer from "failing" schools by assisting them through tuition support.  No, they are doing this to please their campaign contributors who make money from these private  and charter school ventures.  

It is time for the full senate to hear from PUBLIC school supporters regarding HB 1003.  We MUST CALL and demand a NO vote on HB 1003 and put an end to voucher expansion once and for all.  Our elected officials need to be reminded NOW that we vote, and their seats are not safe when they are up for re-election if they continue to slash and deplete our public schools and rob from our children.

Do not think that we stop here! PUBLIC school advocates must be aware that Representative Robert Behning, you remember the florist who is an education "expert", is back at it in House.  Common Core, A-F Revisions and Turnaround Operators are Back

Yesterday, Chairman Behning brought an amendment to Senate Bill 493 revisiting several topics from earlier in the session. Senate Bill 493 is Senator Hershman’s bill to give grants to schools that achieve well on ISTEP. Now it includes several new provisions, including:

· A State Board review of Common Core.

· A fiscal cost assessment of Common Core.

· Voiding the current A-F system, to be replaced by November 15, 2013.

· Putting “A” through “F” school grades in law.

· A thorough rewrite of the 1999 Public Law 221, changing the central goal from “improvement” to “performance.”

· Allowing turnaround school operators who take over a school to expand to other grade levels “not currently provided by the school.”

Many of these ideas came out of the failed House Bill 1337. HB 1337 was defeated as a result of PUBLIC school supporters being involved in the process and expressing concerns overnight Billy's contents.  As we see the negative effects of these provisions being  added to SB 493 by way of amendments by Behning, we must once again take the florist to task and shut him down.  Representative Behning is aware we are coming for his seat, heis trying all he can to push his agenda while he still has a chance to destroy our public schools.  Keep and eye on the battle looming over this bill.   It is worthy to note, while many of us want to see revisions in the A-F system, when Florist Behning was asked if State Superintendent Ritz had input into this A-F plan, he said she did not.

Also in the House Education Committee, an amendment was added to SB 1 that would require an armed school protection officer in every public school in Indiana.  Notice was given by Rep. Sue Errington that this UNFUNDED mandate for an armed person doesn’t apply to private schools.  

 “If you believe this is the way to protect children, why not private schools as well as public schools – especially if they are taking public dollars?” she asked."

According to the bill, a school protection officer would be required in each school and must be on the property during regular school hours and carry a loaded firearm. That person could be a teacher or other school employee who has volunteered and undergone additional training.  If no volunteers come forward,  districts then might have to hire someone, though there is no money in the bill to train employees or hire outside guards. 

A few questions to ask yourself about this amendment and SB 1 ...

1)  Do you want an armed "staff" person in your child's school building?

2) How will schools fund the training and pay of an armed "staffer"?

3) If this is important legislation, why is is good for our Public schools, but not for private schools who receive tuition support from our tax dollars intended to support public education.

Spring Break is over! It is time to get back the momentum from November and raise our voices loud to make sure our PUBLIC schools come out with minimal destruction from this legislative session.  We must STOP HB 1003 in the Senate, and take a stand again when it comes to SB 493 in the House.

Connecting the Dots: ALEC.....to.....Indiana - PART 2



CLICK HERE TO VIEW PART 1

By Heath Johnson

The "Right" to Know:   Think Again

Call me crazy, but it's my belief that we, as constituent voters, should have the right to know if our legislators are attending ALEC meetings, getting free hotel accommodations, reimbursed travel expenses, free drinks, free meals, free cigars, and.... free corporate-crafted legislation.   This legislation impacts our classrooms and our ability to teach, it impacts our students and their parents, and it impacts the community as a whole.   Well, I guess I'm wrong.   According to an email I received (dated 5/15/12) from the chief counsel for the House Republican Caucus, we don't have a right to such information,

"...the Indiana Supreme Court has held that the provisions of the Access to Public Records Act (“APRA”) do not apply to the Indiana House of Representatives.  In Masariu v. The Marion Superior Court No. 1, 621 N.E.2d. 1097 (Ind. 1993), the Indiana Supreme Court determined that it would not intervene in the internal affairs of the legislative branch of government and that it is up to the legislative branch to decide its own internal procedural rules.

In the time between my May 4 response to your email and today, I contacted the Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) to get guidance on the issue, even though the APRA does not apply to the House of Representatives.  I was advised by the PAC that we are not required to create a list to satisfy an open records request.  [See page 25 of the Handbook on Indiana’s Public Access Laws which you can download here:  http://www.in.gov/pac/files/pac_handbook.pdf or I.C. 5-14-3-3(f).]" 

In other words, constituent voters have no right to know if their legislators are engaging in such activities.  In fact, I think this was the email that finally did it for me.   Following this, I made it my mission to expose Indiana's ALEC members, ALEC legislation, and the ALEC "corporate dating service for lonely legislators and corporate special interests" (Wisconsin State Rep. Mark Pocan).  ALEC's DNA Here are some documents that I've found which helped me understand just how extensive ALEC's influence has been with pushing and passing the education reform legislation.

Prior to ALEC Taskforce meetings the "charitable organization" mails out a packet of information to its members.   Referred to as the 35-day Mailer, it includes the model bills, agenda, registration fees, and information about free hotel accommodations and travel reimbursement.   

Linked below is the ALEC Taskforce 35-day Mailer for the December, 2010 Washington D.C. ALEC taskforce "summit".

http://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/ed_35daymailing-dc.pdf

Much of the "model" legislation in this "Taskforce packet" was authored ad sponsored by the Goldwater Institute and much of it was introduced and/or passed in Florida prior to being pushed in Indiana.   The huge model bill in this packet is referred to the  "A-Plus Literacy Act" and it incorporates "model" legislation already adopted by ALEC.   Discussion and voting was sponsored by Matt Ladner, The Goldwater Institute and moderated by Ms. Mickey Revenaugh, Connections Academy, Private Sector Task Force Chair

Page 15 - School A-F grading "model" legislation
Page 18 - School bonus money grant "model" legislation

Page 19 - School choice scholarship "model" legislation

Page 30 - Private school tax credit "model" legislation

Page 36 - REPA II "model" legislation - alternative teacher certification.

Page 38 - I-Read 3 "model" legislation

Page 70 - Parent Trigger "model" legislation (authored by the Heartland Institute)

Page 121 -  Language outlining Taskforce Member free hotel accommodations and reimbursement of travel expenses.

Specifically, the Parent Trigger bill (HB 1358) in the Indiana General Assembly was written by the Heartland Institute. 

This piece of legislation was authored and presented by the Heartland Institute at the December 3rd, 2010 at the ALEC Education Task Force Meeting held at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.   Discussion and voting on this original model legislation occurred at 5:05 p.m. on December 3rd, 2010.   It was sponsored by Marc Oestreich, Heartland Institute. and moderated by Ms. Mickey Revenaugh, Connections Academy, Private Sector Task  Force Chairman.
The legislation was authored by (page 99 of the pdf):

Joseph Bast, president of The Heartland Institute
Ben Boychuk, managing editor of The Heartland Institute’s School Reform News
Bruno Behrend, J.D., director of the Center for School Reform at The Heartland Institute
Marc Oestreich, legislative specialist on education and telecommunications at The Heartland Institute

AGENDA of this ALEC 35-day Mailing (page 8 of the pdf)
MODEL BILL (page 70 of the pdf)

See Heartland Institute's statement on the 2013 Indiana bill.

http://heartland.org/press-releases/2013/02/13/heartland-institute-education-expert-reacts-indiana-parent-trigger-bill-pa

CLICK HERE TO READ PART 3

Legislative Lunchbox v. 6

"Do legislators deserve the same apples teachers get for their efforts in education? Every Friday, "Hoosier Mom on Politics" makes that decision, giving two legislators a good or bad apple, depending on their support of Public Education and Indiana’s children. Check back every Friday at lunchtime to see what the Hoosier Mom packs in the Legislator Lunchbox for the week!

For this post of the “Legislative Lunchbox”, I chose to pack a lunch for State Representative Bob Behning (R- Indianapolis) and State Representative Earline Rogers (D- Gary).

Representative Earline Rogers received a good apple today for the legislation she authored to direct the Department of Education to develop the "Family Friendly School Designation." It would allow schools to apply to the state agency for the title that signals a strong level of family and parental involvement in student education. The bill would give the Department of Education the ability to draft the guidelines for the designation, ideally with teacher and parent input. This is exactly the kind of civic participation that is needed to make not only our schools exceed, but also to allow our Hoosier state to thrive. A long body of scholarly research has shown that parent involvement in education contributes in many ways to more effective schools and better educational outcomes for children. Better attendance rates, higher test scores, passing classes, improved social skills and behavior, and graduation with progression into post-secondary education are attributed to parent involvement in schools. This designation would not only encourage a more collaborative environment in schools across the state, it will help Hoosier children become more successful students and help parents become advocates with educators for high-quality educational outcomes. Well done Ms. Rogers! With bi-partisan support, I look forward to seeing this bill progress through the chambers and into our mainstream Hoosier life.

On the contrary, Representative Bob Behning received a bad apple this week when - without hesitation - he refused to hear SB 193. This bill calls for public hearings in every Congressional district to discuss the relevancy and appropriateness of the  Common Core national standards as Indiana academic standards. Mr. Behning said,

• "We've never gone to that level of public input. Frankly, most of the public would not have a very easy time even understanding what standards are, let alone trying to help form them."

You must be joking with me. Most of the public is not intelligent enough to have a conversation about what our children are learning? Mr. Behning, your comment smacks of condescension and arrogance that I don't particularly find appealing in a legislator whose job is to serve the people. You are not the Almighty, put in your position because you have some special ability to discern educational issues more effectively than the rest of us. Quite the opposite - you are only elected on the good will of the people in your district. It might be time to come down off that "high-horse" you hoisted yourself upon, and realize that civic participation is an essential component in effective democracies. You need to think about the implications of your comment in regards to your own election - if we aren't smart enough to have conversation about our kids with our teachers, are you suggesting we aren't smart enough to vote, too?


The Hoosier Mom hopes all the readers will spread the word about the Legislative Lunchbox. Feel free to email me with suggestions for next week’s lunch: for whom should I pack lunch and why?