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.

TUESDAY TATTLER 7

State Representative Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) has once again shown his elitist arrogance by stating his refusal to hear a bill that directly supports Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz's stance on slowing down and re-evaluating the Common Core State Standards.  From the start the Common Core has been unpopular with educators, administrators, and parents across the state.  They were implemented by former Superintendent Tony Bennett and have been a contentious point of duscussion concerning everything from cost to possible conflict of interest of state representatives (Rep. Todd Huston (R-Fishers) works for the man who wrote Common Core, one of its foremost promoters).

During the first half of the legislative session, by a bipartisan 38-11 vote, the Indiana Senate passed Senate Bill 193 to hold public hearings in every congressional district on Common Core,  and to study how much new tests, textbooks, and teacher training because of it would cost taxpayers.  This bill, although many feel it should never have been written, supports Superintendent Ritz's statement, “Common Core Standards must be re-evaluated. Indiana had exceptional standards before Common Core.” 

It should be within the Superintendent's power through the SBOE and as leader of the DOE to call for statewide review, without the necessity of legislative intervention through any bill regarding Common Core.  However, in a compromise with the bills original intent to put an immediate end to common core altogether, the Superintendent supported the amended bill calling for the statewide hearings.  With the legislature seemingly attempting to destroy her authority as the highest elected Democrat in state office, it is not surprising the Representative Behning has come out against a bill that would show even the slightest support for Superintendent Ritz.

As House Education Committee Chairman,  Representative Behning (R-Indianapolis) says no constituent or colleague concerns have changed his mind about refusing to hear the bill as it crosses from the Senate to the House.  With his arrogance swelling, Behning made some pretty questionable remarks regarding his constituents and the citizenry of Indiana.  After making comments that he is not excited about hearing the bill, he stated that if it is heard "it wouldn’t look like it does now,”  

Behning continued his statement regarding the bill by saying, “We’ve never ever gone to that level of public input."

He says,  “Frankly, most of the time the public would not have a very easy time even understanding what standards are, let alone trying to help form them.”

That sounds like a man who thinks so highly of himself, and his knowledge of education, that he would totally disregard the PUBLIC he is elected to serve because they would not even begin to understand what standards are.  Yes,  I am sure his life as a florits qualifies him to make such grand statements about education, and his constituency.  His pompous attitude is wearing on this writer, and I think it is time he speak to his constituents and explain why he appears to have no faith in their ability to communicate and understand discussions regarding education matters.

Mr. Behning, it is time you realize that your constituents are not only intelligent, they are also listening and watching your every move this legislative session, and your days may well be numbered come election time.  Enjoy your attempts to destroy our PUBLIC schools now, because your time is up and someone who actually knows something about education is coming for your seat!


Quotes and information thanks to The Heartland Institute Article "Indiana Common Core Bill Bottlenecked in House"

HOOSIER VOICES CELEBRATES SUPPORTERS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION

 COMMENT BELOW TO BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN A FREE GIFT!

Hoosier Voices for Public Education would like to thank all our supporters for our growing success and our statewide reach.  We are amazed and excited about the opportunity we have had and will continue to have to bring pertinent information regarding PUBLIC education to those who truly support all that PUBLIC education represents.  As we celebrate the success of making over 1,300 “friends” on Facebook and reaching over 7,200 page views on the blog (in our first 37 days of existence on blogspot), we would like to give back to our supporters.  Make sure you have liked the Hoosier Voices page on FB, clicked like on the celebration post on Facebook,  and comment below on this celebration post by our 2 month anniversary (March 25). We will randomly select one lucky supporter to receive a free gift.

TUESDAY TATTLER 6

This week the "tattler" looks at the Hoosier Mom's grading of our Indiana state representatives, especially those who received "F" grades for their lack of support for PUBLIC education.

When you look for your legislator's grade on any of the five "tests" used by the Hoosier Mom for her "mid-term" report card, you are going to want to look at a couple of things to check the reasoning for your representative's overall grade.  When looking at the overall "grades" you will want to note the method of grading.  There is a possible point total of 10 or 0 for each "test".  This makes for a possible total of 50 points for the "mid-term".  Representatives received full credit (10 points) for voting in favor of PUBLIC education.  In the reverse, the representatives received no credit (0) for voting against PUBLIC education or by "skipping the test" (not showing up to vote).

The Hoosier Mom utilized the following grading scale to determine each representative's mid-term grade based on their overall mid-term test results.
 

80-100, A
 

60-79, B

40-59, C

20-39, D

0-19, F

If your representative received a grade of C or below, it is time to question why they are voting against PUBLIC education, or if they are skipping out on votes to save face from going against their caucus.  Click the image below to see how each individual representative scored on the 5 "tests" in the first half of the session.

Hoosier Mom's Grade Report

REMEDIATION

It is not only vital that we note how our legislators are voting, or if they are skipping out on votes on key legislation to save face, it is also important that we begin to look at proper remediation techniques to see that they pass their final exam.  As good "teachers" we must utilize all our available tools to ensure that our "students" understand the full scope of their voting, and how we expect them to rectify this by showing better support of PUBLIC education in their future voting.  What tools do we have at our disposal to better "remediate"?  That my friends is the one question we have an easy answer for.  Here is your "Remediation Tool Kit"

1) Phone Calls - Use the switchboards to contact your direct representatives and key committee members to inform them how they can vote to support PUBLIC education.

2) Emails - Continue to use the email links to email your representatives regarding key legislation and how they can vote to support PUBLIC education. Contact the House Contact the Senate Contact Education Committees

3) Letter Writing - Utilize letter writing skills to "smail" mail your legislators now to inform them, should legislation come for vote of full house, how they can vote to support PUBLIC education.

4) Facebook (social media) - Continue to create and/or share posts supporting PUBLIC education and callling for action in posts to inform others of what they can do to support PUBLIC education.

5) Visit Legislature - Make trips to the house to speak with legislators or to testify in support of PUBLIC education when key education legislation comes up for discussion and vote.

6) BE ACTIVE - STAY ACTIVE - We used our voices to vote in November in support of PUBLIC education.  We me must stay active to make sure the voices (and votes) of 1.3 million hoosiers continue to be heard in support of PUBLIC education.

Charters, and Vouchers, and Reform - Oh MY!

The Indiana House Education Committee strikes at Public Education again! Tomorrow, HB 1338 and HB 1003  are planned to receive a hearing in the House Chambers starting at 8:30am.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please contact the House Education Committee members (emails listed below) in separate emails for the two bills, and tell them to vote NO. For more information on how to write to your legislators, click here.

  HB 1003: This is Rep. Behning's bill that would expand voucher eligibility to students who have NOT previously spent a year in public schools. It also would triple the home school and private school tax deduction to $3,000. 




HB 1338: Charter Schools are public schools by law yet this bill would take them from the Dept. of Ed for reporting, funding and facilities incentive purposes and put them under the Budget Agency.

§       Teachers, all teachers, should have content area requirements for licensure yet HB 1338 removes the requirement for already unlicensed charter school teacher to have training “in the content or related area in which the individual teaches.”

§       The bill provides that a virtual charter school would receive tuition support in the same way bricks & mortar charters do.

§       And if that isn’t enough, if the bill passes, virtual schools will receive funding for all students, even those never in public schools.  Home schools could receive tax money.

Contact those members of the House Education Committee who are likely to vote for this bill.  Do it ASAP.

Rep. Behning, Chair, h91@in.gov 

Rep. Rhoads, h70@in.gov

Rep. L. Arnold, h74@in.gov

Rep. Burton, h58@in.gov

Rep. Clere, h72@in.gov

Rep. DeVon, h5@in.gov

Rep. Huston, h37@in.gov

Rep. Lucas, h69@in.gov

Rep. Thompson, h28@in.gov

For HB 1003:  Express your opposition to voucher expansion AND share your views with your representative.

•       Ask them to vote NO on HB 1003.

For HB 1338:  Explain in your words how all teachers need to have training in content areas in which they teach.

§       Discuss how funding virtual school at 100% of tuition support impacts your school.

§       Explain that funding for students never in public schools (never part of the ADM) puts traditional public schools at risk of losing even more funding without losing students.

§       Ask them to vote NO on HB 1338.