2018 Legislative Mid-Session Recap

Here is a brief recap of bills affecting education travelling through the Indiana House and Senate along with those that appear to have died due to lack of support or hearing.

BILLS STILL IN PLAY - THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

These bills are on the move from one chamber to the other.  Some of these are positive bills that need support from PUBLIC education advocates, others need advocates to push legislators to vote them down, and some are just ugly attacks on PUBLIC schools, students, and educators.  Let's take a look at what bills are on the move.

GOOD

SB 189 and HB 1001, which move money from a reserve fund to the state general fund, sped through their respective chambers, and are on-track to be moved through the opposing chamber. Even with revisions to the proposed law, it’s likely that a fix will be approved before the session ends in mid-March.

SB 189 and HB 1001 would close the gap in school funding that resulted from miscalculations in the number of students attending public schools. The bills would let the state transfer up to $25 million per year from a reserve fund to the state general fund, where it could then be distributed to districts.

SB 172 would require public schools to offer computer science classes as an elective in high schools, as well as a part of the science curriculum for all students. The bill also sets up a grant program to pay for teacher training in computer science.

HB 1420, among several other measures, would not let a student who has been expelled from a virtual charter school for non-attendance re-enroll in that same school during the same school year.

BAD

SB 303 would implement a variety of unrelated education policies, but one element hidden within the bill would damage the teaching profession.  The bill would require bargained teacher contracts to contain a minimum number of hours per day the teacher is expected to work, as opposed to a set number of hours.  During his term as state superintendent, Tony Bennett tried this approach and a court found that it violated the law.  This bill is disrespectful of the work and time teachers put in each day.  Teachers already put in additional hours and personal expense to ensure that their students are served.  This bill passed out of the Senate 45-3.  Please continue to OPPOSE this bill as it moves to the House.  Contact your Representatives in the House and as them to OPPOSE SB 303.

SB 177 and HB 1426 would combine Indiana’s four diplomas into a single diploma with four “designations” that mirror current diploma tracks. The bills would also allow the Indiana State Board of Education to consider alternatives to Algebra 2 as a graduation requirement. The House bill would change the state high school exam to a national college-entrance exam, require high schools to test students in science, and eliminate the requirement that schools give the Accuplacer remediation test. It would also change rules for getting a graduation waiver and create an “alternate diploma” for students with severe special needs.  These bills make some changes that could damage the rights and potential success of students with special needs.  

This proposal to change the graduation waiver system is the latest attempt by the state to amend graduation requirements as part of a policy initiative to ensure that students are prepared for life after high school. The change in waiver policy could make it more challenging for students who struggle academically to complete high school.

“I want to make sure we have as few waivers as possible,” said Rep. Bob Behning, Republican chairman of the House Education Committee and author of House Bill 1426, which includes the waiver changes. And if a waiver is necessary, he said, he wants the requirements to be stringent enough to ensure post-graduate success and further harm some of the state's most fragile students.  OPPOSE diploma changes that discard a general diploma and place more stringent requirements on special needs students.

SB 297 would require schools to include “employability skills,” also known as “soft skills,” in their curriculum. The idea for the bill came from David Freitas, a member of the state board of education.  

SB 387 would allow the state to grant an “initial practitioner license” to prospective teachers even if they have not passed subject area exams so long as they have at least a 3.0 GPA, have completed student teaching, and have received a job with a school. The bill would let districts hire up to 10 percent of teachers with this license under these circumstances. The bill would also let districts pay teachers different amounts in an effort to fill jobs in special education, science or math fields. A previous measure that would let districts hire up to 10 percent of unlicensed teachers was removed.  This would act as a simple band aid for the teacher shortage, would allow potentially unqualified persons to be employed ans teachers, and undervalues some teachers based on their licence area.

HB 1398 would allow a group of charter schools and districts to form a “coalition” to pursue innovative academic strategies. Coalition members could also waive certain state requirements, such as the requirement that students pass Algebra 2 to graduate.  Just another bill to show favor to charters and undermine PUBLIC schools by changing the rules.

UGLY

HB 1315 passed out of the House, 65 - 26. House Democrats offered amendments  that would have improved the bill, including an amendment from Rep. Melanie Wright (D - Yorktown) that would have made certain Muncie teachers had the right to a collective voice and a seat at the table, but it was defeated.

HB 1315 now moves to the Senate for consideration. Even if you have already completed the call to action, we need your voice again, as this time you will be contacting your senator.

This bill would hand control of Muncie Community Schools over to Ball State University (BSU). BSU would be empowered to appoint a new, unelected school board for Muncie Schools. To summarily remove a locally elected school board is drastic action. The bill would also punish Muncie teachers by stripping them of their right to association recognition and to bargain wage issues and discuss student learning issues.

For all other teachers in the state, the bill would hold classroom teachers responsible for the state of a school districts' finances by specifically calling for the termination of up to 5 percent of the teacher force by the end of a fall semester, if a district is designated as being in fiscal distress. These actions would no doubt impact student learning and academic goals and increase class sizes right in the middle of a school year.

OTHER

SB 50, which now includes the workforce provisions from SB 157, would allow students to stay in high school for an additional year to pursue advanced classes or finish a certification related to their careers. It would also create a state agency and executive to oversee career and technical education, among other proposals.

SB 65 would require parents to give their approval for children to participate in instruction on sex, including gender identity and sexual orientation. Currently, the system is opt-out, not opt-in, as the bill proposes.

 SB 8 would require all districts, charter and private schools to teach cursive.

HB 1388 would require the state board to create elementary teacher licenses in math and science.

HB 1421 would ask the state education department to develop a school discipline model that reduces suspensions and expulsions, especially among students of color. It also requires the department provide guidance and information to districts, beginning in 2019, that want to use that model. It encourages the legislative council to study positive student discipline and restorative justice and asks the education department to survey districts on those practices.

SB 217 would require districts and charter schools to screen students for dyslexia and by 2020, to employ at least one dyslexia specialist, among other provisions.

BILLS THAT HAVE DIED THIS SESSION

These bills have either "died" in committee, failed to get a hearing, or were voted down in their respective chamber leaving them dead for this short session.  

SB 29 and HB 1042 would have allowed low-income families to apply for state preschool scholarships even if they were not employed, in school, or training for a job.

SB 272 and HB1392 would have made kindergarten mandatory by lowering the state’s compulsory school age to 5. It is currently 7. This bill was supported by Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jennifer McCormick and many educators across the state.

SB 205 would have allowed students transferring from one private school to another to take their remaining voucher dollars with them that year. The bill initially saw support from the education committee, but the Senate Appropriations Committee did not hear it.

SB 315, SB 350, and SB 406 would have placed more restrictions on charter school authorizers and required them to show the state their schools are academically sound before they open additional schools or enroll more students. None of these bills received hearings.  It is a shame that more restrictions are not placed on chartes and private schools and they are continually failing on the tax payers dime at the expense of our PUBLIC schools.

SB 7 would have barred schools from starting before the last Monday in August. Such calendar bills have been proposed each year, and none have moved forward.  These bills undermine local control of setting start and end dates and are difficult to support when they do not include a means to address the 180 day rule.

HB 1264 would have given grants to schools that applied to create “competency-based education” programs, which would let them alter instruction so that students move from lesson to lesson, or grade to grade, based on the skills they master, rather than time. The bill’s author, Rep. Tim Brown, decided not to hear the bill in House Ways and Means because of the cost involved. This is the second year the bill has failed.

50 Days To Come Together

I am writing this blog post for one purpose, to wake up all who support a common end goal to COME TOGETHER for the good of the cause and make it happen.  We have seen, through our #StandUpForPublicEducation campaign, that a common goal can be reached when in fighting and petty differences are put aside to reach the desired outcome.  I observed many community leaders, over the past weeks, taking a stand to defeat a proposed charter in Porter County.  There are forces across Indiana, similar to those in the Porter County area, who share common goals but have differing opinions on the means to reach the desired outcome.

In 2012 I started Hoosier Voices as a platform to promote PUBLIC education and those who support our PUBLIC schools and elected officials and candidates who feel the same.  Often times from the beginning of Hoosier Voices to now, I have seen forces with the same goal become distracted from reaching the goal because of petty arguments and differences in means to reach the same goal.  Once forces were joined, the grassroots campaigns became nearly unstoppable.  I saw this again this past week with the defeat and ultimate SSCA charter application withdrawal.  This is the direction we need to find across the state of Indiana.

We have 50 days to find our common ground once again, set our true outcome goals, set aside the petty differences and in fighting, and Stand Up For Public Education once and for all.  It is time all the collective forces across the state come together, as was done in 2012 for Glenda Ritz, to defeat all who stand in line to further destroy our PUBLIC schools through their reform minded legislation, charter school applications, false statements about our Department of Education, lack of support of educators, financial robbery for private benefit, and ill devised methods to discriminate against our neediest children.

Please, find the common ground necessary to stop the squabbling.  Stand up WITH one another and SUPPORT the ultimate goal of PUBLIC EDUCATION across the state.  Don't air your "dirty laundry" publicly to give others fuel to undermine the purpose we all seed to achieve in the end.  50 days is not much time to promote, support, and campaign to reach PUBLIC EDUCATION victories across the state.  Let us vow, today, to stand together to reach our common goals and show that we all #StandUpForPublicEducation.

CALL TO ACTION! STOP SB334!

SB334, this session's version of Voucher Expansion, was amended in the House and has returned to the senate for a vote to concur, vote down, or let it die. This session has proven interesting, to say the least.  Not only are votes looking more partisan when final votes are taken on Education measures, they also appear to be quite contentious between the GOP members of the House and Senate.  This could be positive for PUBLIC school advocates, as we were already able to STOP HB1004 and SB10 by speaking out, tweeting, emailing, calling, and posting concerns to our elected officials.  They have heard our outcry.  They know our displeasure.  They are aware of our concerns.  Now they must choose to ignore our voices during an election year or follow our urging and recognize our concerns by voting down any remaining bills destructive to PUBLIC education.  

This post asks you to once again contact your legislators, especially in the Senate, and urge them to VOTE NO on SB334.  It is time to shout out one more time to urge support for our PUBLIC schools by stopping destructive measures and financial fiasco.  SB334 (Voucher Expansion) once again straps the education budget to the favor of charter and private schools while draining our PUBLIC schools of much needed funds provided by Indiana's taxpayers.

Below is a graphic from Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education detailing the immense sums of money being doled out for the "Choice Scholarships". Expanding these scholarships will further siphon money from PUBLIC schools in the already tight education budget.

Another graphic from Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education shows the difference between voucher funded schools and our PUBLIC schools.  Taking funding from our PUBLIC schools does not seem fair when those schools receiving voucher money do not have to play by the same rules of providing for students.  If they are not expected to serve under the same requirements and standards, then they should not be receiving our PUBLIC tax dollars to fund their own agenda and pad the wallets of their corporate leaders.

Please take time to contact members of the Senate and ask them to stop draining our PUBLIC schools for corporate benefit and fund our PUBLIC schools without expanding vouchers and putting the money where it belongs.

Click here for twitter handles of legislators.

ANOTHER SUNDAY TWITTER STORM

Twitter Storm

Join us on Twitter Sunday, Feb. 21 4 – 5 p.m. Indy time/3 -4 p.m. Chicago time

It was evident early that many legislators on the Senate Pension and Labor Committee had no interest in hearing from teachers on HB 1004, a teacher bill. The committee offered and voted on two amendments to the bill before anyone could testify and offer context, therefore it appears that the disposition of this bill was predetermined.

So this weekend, join the Twitter Storm and let your voice be heard. Twitter Storms work best when a large group of people tweet messages around a specific topic using the same hashtag. Our goal is to generate as many tweets possible from members, leaders, partners, parents and activists.

Hashtag: #RespectOurVoice #RespectTeachers

Sample tweets:

You can use the sample tweets below or create your own. Because we’re asking for our voices to be heard and respected, ensure that your messages are respectful, but clear.

HB 1004 will cut the pay for the majority of teachers, worsening the teacher shortage, and hurting students. #RespectOurVoice

HB 1004: a backdoor around bargaining with local teachers. #RespectOurVoice

Silencing our voices before the vote is unacceptable. Vote NO on HB 1004. #RespectOurVoice

HB 1004 isn’t local control, it is individual control. Vote no on HB 1004. #RespectOurVoice

Indiana opens the door to discriminatory supplements. Vote NO on HB 1004. #RespectOurVoice

Tag Legislators and Media:

Find your legislators and local journalists (such as @ChalkbeatIN @ShainaRC @nkellyatJC @IndyStarChelsea @kfrancisco) on Twitter and tag them in your tweets. 

Does Gregg have PUBLIC school interests at heart?

Has Christel DeHann's $50,000 bought her Christel
House Academy another passing A-F grade? 

John Gregg looks to be the Democratic nominee for Governor, barring any last minute challengers entering the Democratic race.  This will set up a re-match of the 2012 Governor's race and call many campaign details into question.  The one hot detail for Indiana's education arena is just how much does/will a Governor Gregg support Indiana Superintendent Glenda Ritz (if she earns re-election) and Indiana's PUBLIC schools.

John Gregg(a supposed FORMER member of ALEC) has received campaign contributions from DFER (Democrats for Education Reform, a group that supports many bogus and destructive reforms similar to those of the Indiana GOP) in the past, and has recently gained the support and a $50,000 contribution from Christel DeHann (Noted Indiana Philanthropist, Freedom Indiana Supporter, and namesake of the Christel House Academy at the center of the Tony Bennett "Grade Changing Scandal". (See Open Letter from Doug Martin to John Gregg)

Bennett changed grades for Dehann's Christel House

Tony Bennett received hefty contributions from DeHann during his campaigns and these contributions have always been rumored to come with strings.  Bennett was defeated by Glenda Ritz in 2012 in Indiana and then left the same post in Florida after the grade changing scandal came to light.

 

Indiana needs a clear cut candidate, openly supportive of PUBLIC schools, clean of campaign contributions from Private and Charter school leaders who give freely with strings attached.  Rumors are that DeHann has contributed to the Gregg campaign to show her support for the LGBT community and the repeal of RFRA.  However, there needs to be a definitive statement from John Gregg as such and a strong statement that he FULLY supports Glenda Ritz, PUBLIC schools, and the end of destructive policies and vouchers.  It is time for a candidate to stand up to the contributors who seek favor from their donations and stand up for the middle class tax payers who pay to fund PUBLIC schools and not continually supplement the voucher seekers and private or charter schools.

 

John Gregg, stand up.  Stop using Glenda Ritz and public schools as photo ops and campaign props.  Say what you truly intend to pursue as Governor for Indiana's school children and stop touting false support in sound bites for the evening news. 

 

Mike Pence MUST GO, but at what further expense to our PUBLIC schools.



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.

BOB BEHNING - PUBLIC EDUCATION'S #1 ENEMY

 

 

Indiana State Representative Robert Behning has gone from failed florist to PUBLIC Education's #1 enemy.  He has become a self-proclaimed education "reform" expert as Chairman of the House Education Committee.  In this role he has made every attempt to destroy and dismantle Indiana's Public school system in order to further line the wallets of his private school and private corporation cronies.  He has become an ALEC "all star" with his strong desire to write and utilize ALEC legislation into Indiana law to further cripple Indiana's public schools.  He seems to thrive on the destruction set in motion by former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and former Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Bennett.  Representative Behning seems poised to continue his assault on Indiana's school children through his horrendous legislation and arrogant manner. He made many attempts to strip newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz, of power and pushed one of the most vigorous voucher expansion programs in the nation through the legislature.  Behning did all these things against the wishes of his constituency by ignoring the voices calling for more public education support and less stripping our public schools down for the benefit of private and charter expansions.

 

As the picture above shows, Representative Behning claims to be glad to ehar from his constituents.  However, in stark contrast, the man whose website says he wants to hear from you doesn't really want to hear what you think about standards because you're too stupid to understand them anyway. 

 

It is time for Indiana voters in his district to take a stand for children and Public Education, by showing up in 2014 to vote him out of a seat in District 91 that has held since 1992. A seat he seems confident is safe for him to regain with little effort in 2014.

Final Grades: State Legislators

Hoosier Mom's Public Education Grade Book

Spring Session 2013

It is that time in the legislative session when the Hoosier Mom must submit the final grade card for our legislators. The grades are based on their support for public education as measured through their votes. 

The Hoosier Mom chose 5 bills as "tests" of our legislator's support for public education this session. Just like in school, legislators will earn points by passing the test and using their vote in support of public education. Just like in public school, legislators that chose to not take the test do not earn points: there is no make-up test. 


The 5 tests were:

SB 189 - Performance Qualified Schools

HB 1003 - Voucher Program Expansion

HB 1338 - Charter School Expansion

HB 1357 - Deprofessionalization of Superintendent Licensure

HB 1427 - Common Core & other Tony Bennett matters


There are many legislators who are failing to support public education. The Hoosier Mom suggests a voter takeover of these legislator's positions in the upcoming election year.  Accountability is the priority here: they must be held accountable to the voters.

The only option we have is to elect legislators that will documentably support public education via their vote.

The gradebook is as follows for the House, then the Senate:

 

TUESDAY TATTLER 11



Let's take a look at last minute power struggles in the Indiana State Legislature.  As usual, Representative Bob Behning is at the core of most of the bills focussed on the destruction of Indiana's PUBLIC schools and set to dole out more funding to his favored private school contributors.  Along with the expansion of vouchers, Representative Behning seems intent on continuing the reform wagon pulled by former Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett.  Take a look at the bills listed below, where they stand in each house of the state legislature, and who is supporting or opposing each. 
According to StateImpact . . .

Senate Bill 1: A conference committee looking at the school safety bill is scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday. As you may be aware, the controversial amendment requiring armed personnel in every Indiana school has been sent to summer study committee, but lawmakers still need to work out differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

Senate Bill 207: Last week the House agreed to a partial rollback of a 2011 law that bars undocumented students from paying in-state tuition. The bill goes back to the Senate for concurrence.

House Bill 1003: The bill’s author, Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, says he won’t fight Senate changes to the bill that significantly narrow voucher expansion. Instead, he’s proposed a modest increase in the tuition cap — $400 over the next two years.

House Bill 1327: House lawmakers were expected to vote Monday on a proposal to relax superintendent licensure requirements. Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann cast the tie-breaking vote when the bill left the Senate earlier this month. Now the House needs to approve those changes before the bill can go to Gov. Mike Pence.

House Bill 1427: We’re waiting to see if a proposal that would halt implementation of new academic standards will pass the House or head to conference committee. Sen. Scott Schneider, R-Indianapolis, added anti-Common Core language to the bill after a separate Senate timeout proposal stalled in the House Education Committee. Behning, who chairs that panel, is a staunch supporter of the new standards and says he’d like to see HB 1427 head to conference committee, but Schneider feels he has the votes he needs in the House to succeed.

When we look ahead to the end of this session, April 29 at latest, we must also begin looking ahead to future elections and determine who we need to take a close look at voting out. 

TUESDAY TATTLER - TIMEOUT

Today the Tuesday Tattler takes a Timeout from tattling on those who seek to destroy public education.  Instead of tattling on anyone this week, the Tattler looks to explain the existence of Hoosier Voices for Public Education.

Hoosier Voices for Public Education is your Independent Source for PUBLIC Education Information. 

The mission from day one has been that Hoosier Voices is dedicated to the support of Indiana's public schools. We will discuss ideas, share information, and continue to hold our government representatives accountable.  We will discuss ideas and policies that affect the learning environments of Hoosier school children, as well as past, present, and future legislation that seeks to undermine the very characteristic of what it means to be a PUBLIC school in Indiana.  We will work together to stand up for Hoosier school children statewide.

Hoosier Voices prides itself as an "independent" and "free of charge" organization for supporting Indiana's PUBLIC schools.  Hoosier Voices for Public Education is beholden to no one.  This organization does not receive funds from lobbying organizations.  Hoosier Voices is unlike other advocacy groups in that it is an independent source of information flow to public education supporters.  This organization represents ALL of Indiana's public school children, their parents, their teachers, and all who seek to support a traditional public education in the state of Indiana.  This is done without ever asking for "membership fees" to pay lobbyists or to "bankroll" political campaigns.  Hoosier Voices does not pay for lobbyists, as there is a much much larger cause than any one lobbyist can support.  Instead Hoosier Voices acts to inform public education supporters of important situations and circumstances that require each one can act individually to advocate for the public education they support.

Hoosier Voices for Public Education will remain independent in function proactive in supporting Indiana's PUBLIC schools.  Indiana's public school children, parents, teachers, and schools have taken huge hits over the past few years, and it is time for us to stand together to slow the tide of reform, stifle the stealing of PUBLIC education money to fund vouchers for for-profit private/charter schools, and to do so in a manner that is free flowing and transparent.  Hoosier Voices will continue to share the latest happenings in public education around the state and how each individual supporter can get involved to make a difference for Indiana's children.  In essence, Hoosier Voices for Public Education is NOT For Sale! 

WEDNESDAY WIRE

The Greatest American Institution 

"The whole people must take upon themselves the education of the whole people and be willing to bear the expenses of it. There should not be a district of one mile square, without a school in it, not founded by a charitable individual, but maintained at the public expense of the people themselves."— John Adams, U.S. President, 1785

Where is the gap in logic? As I sit here trying to figure out how to write this post, I keep wondering what the heck these Indiana legislators are thinking with their “reform” of our public education system. I mean, where are the dots not connecting here?

If there is one Institution, one great idea that separates the US from the rest of the world, that has produced great leaders and scientists, artists and innovators, engineers and musicians - it is this idea that we take the education of the whole people upon ourselves. HB 1003 threatens to expand this notion that private institutions should benefit from public funding so that some – not all – have the ‘choice’ to attend the private institution. All the while this ‘choice’ is funded at the expense of our greatest institution, our public education system that actually educates the whole people.

CALL YOUR SENATOR AND TELL THEM TO VOTE NO TO 1003 NOW!!

Our laws have to make sense and be able to withstand the test of reason. If this system of granting vouchers for 'choice' is good enough for public education, shouldn’t it be good enough for other institutions to be logical? For example:

If vouchers are so great, Why don’t we start funneling money from Public Libraries to give it to Barnes and Noble? Or Christian Book Stores? After all, I am a taxpayer and I want compensated for my choice to purchase books at a bookstore instead of borrowing from a Library.


Or better yet, I don’t want to take public transportation, it is my "choice" to buy a car...cant the Legislators funnel a certain dollar amount from public transportation so I can use it to fund my automobile "choice"?
 

I will tell you why – because outsourcing public funds to private institutions is nothing more than Corporate Welfare. Whether it is Voucher funds to private schools, Book Stores, or Car Dealers, outsourcing public funds to private institutions will always be nothing more than Corporate Welfare. For as many people in the House and Senate who claim to be Capitalists, supportive of a free market system, there are an awful lot of these same legislators who seek to support these “capitalist free market” ventures with public funds. Last time I checked, that isn’t Capitalism.

It is time for ALL Hoosiers to come together and say enough of this voucher nonsense. We don’t need to pay for someone else’s so-called ‘choice’ while our Greatest American Institution – that very institution that separates US from the rest of the world, is left to deteriorate and our children left with curriculum cuts, educator down-sizing, and program dismantling. This is the OPPOSITE of educating of our children - this is cronyism, nothing more,.

It is time for the those downstate to put their petty power struggles aside and do what is right for THE PEOPLE – not some of the people, ALL of the PEOPLE.

CALL YOUR LEGISLATOR AND ASK THEM TO VOTE NO ON 1003 Today!
Tell them you want fully – funded PUBLIC Schools, not Corporate Welfare disguised as ‘reform’.


 

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?

TUESDAY TATTLER 8

Former Indiana Governor and new Purdue University President, Mitch Daniels implemented $300 million in education funding cuts in 2010 and 2011 as the recession forced the state to slash its budget across the board: K-12 education, higher education, and unemployment benefits. As the 2012 fiscal year came to a close with nearly $2 billion in reserves, constituent said the surplus should be used to restore funding to programs and budgets that were cut.

Shouldn't any surplus be used to reinstate funding to those programs?  One would think that this idea would make sense, but to the politicians it apparently means nothing.  The legislature has recently set out to continue to destroy Public education in Indiana through bills to strip the power of newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, Glenda Ritz, and by attempting to push through a huge fiscally irresponsible voucher expansion bill.

It appears that newly elected Governor Mike Pence has no desire to increase funding for education or reinstate the $300 million that was cut.  Governor Pence has made it clear that he supports voucher expansion, and his budget does not appear to establish any fiscal improvement for Indiana's K-12 PUBLIC education.  Pence is seeking approval of his proposed budget that includes a cut in Indiana's state income tax rate by 10 percent over the next two years.

What appears fortunate for Indiana's Public schools, is the fact that prominent Republican lawmakers in Indiana are lukewarm at best on the new governor's tax cut plan. Some are even on record as wishing to replenish funding to programs the recession forced them to cut and shore up Indiana's budget for the long haul.  Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma and some other Republican legislative leaders would rather return the budget surplus to the state's public schools.

The current debate is over how much money to restore — and to what programs. Pence's budget would increase K-12 funding by $137 million over the next two years, but this increase only makes up for the gap in  the funding of Indiana's new full-day kindergarten program.  Some Indiana Democrats say Pence's budget falls short of reinstating the education dollars the Daniels administration cut; we're not even halfway there. Speaker Bosma says he'd prefer to restore even more money to public schools, although he declines to say how much and by what means. 

While all this looks good on paper, and while Mitch Daniels laughs from West Lafayette at the debate taking place, Pence's propsed increases in education look to be undercut even more by his push for voucher expansion.  Expanding the state's voucher program looks to rob a significant amount of funding from the very PUBLIC schools still reeling from those $300 million in cuts suffered under the Daniels administration's last budget.  While Daniels secured his future job by appointing the very people who eventually hired him at Purdue, he has set himself up in a comfortable seat to view Pence's battle to make a name for himself in the State House. 

While Pence and Daniels have proven to be on the same page with regard to destroying public education through their "reformist" tactics and vouchers to support their private school cronies and corporate sponsors, it is now time for Hoosier PUBLIC school supporters to continue to stand up to these politicians.  We must push for proper funding for K-12 education to be restored, and for the voucher expansion wagon to be derailed.  It is time for the Daniels era to end and for Pence to understand that the voters sent a loud message in November and will continue to do so throughout his term, which could easily end after 4 years if he continues to scoff at PUBLIC schools as second rate to his precious charter and private schools.  We must let our voices be heard loudly as we procliam that we want funding restored from the previous cuts and more support for PUBLIC education in Indiana.  We must demand our $300 million to be returned to our PUBLIC schools without adding extra unfunded expenses on top.

 

Legislative Lunchbox v. 7

"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 Luke Kenley (R- Noblesville) and State Representative Heath VanNatter (R - Howard County).

Senator Luke Kenley received a good apple today for his common sense and leadership in the Senate Appropriations Committee hearings on the voucher expansion bill (HB 1003). One of the most expansive voucher programs in the Nation-State, Indiana's fledgling voucher program is being scrutinized in the State Supreme Court on question of its constitutionality. Moreover, the tangible recipients of these public funds are mostly private religious institutions. Student's function in the deal only as a Straw Buyer and to date students have received no documented net tangible benefit (ie: improved educational outcomes as measured on standardized tests). HB 1003 proposes even further expansion to the current voucher program, by eliminating the requirement that students at least finish a year stay in public school. Herein lies the fundamental deal breaker for most Senators, as the year stay language was essential to gaining majority approval of the first voucher bill less than two years ago. The Hoosier Mom believes Senator Kenley showed excellence in reason with the matter when he said,

"This is a pretty, almost, cataclysmic change in the education system.

I wonder if this would make sense to give it a rest for some time, say 5 years, and study it?" 

Senator Kenley, you are absolutely right. There is no reason why we have to expand the voucher program at an Indy Car pace - this isn't some quick and easy means to an end. Quite the contrary, these are our children and the easy come - easy go nature of the reform ideology is not a value I want to cultivate in my children. In fact, until there is more certainty as to the real educational outcomes for Hoosier children as a result of the nascent voucher program, there should be considerable hesitancy on the part of legislators to continue with the existing program. Hoosier children's education, not private religious institution's profit margins, are what should be the top priority.

Representative Heath VanNatter received a bad apple today for watching YouTube during the course of his busy day at work in the State House. Apparently, participation in the civic engagement process by fulfilling his elected role as State legislator just isn't interesting enough for him. So he 'mixes it up'  by watching YouTube while we the taxpayers finance him. What seems even worse is that not even one other legislator or intern or employee saw this behavior as anything out of the ordinary. It would seem that our fine Representative VanNatter must be watching YouTube fairly often for it not to phase anyone around him. Here is the video:

Now, I know there are probably worse things that could - and likely do - happen during the course of the day in the State House; things worse than some random representative watching You Tube. Maybe this just perturbs me personally because Rep. VanNatter reminds me of that young college boy who acts too smart to be bothered with participating in his class, and so uses his laptop to supposedly "take notes" all the while in reality he is busily surfing the internet for the entirety of class. Well, the Hoosier Mom thinks it is time for you to grow up Representative VanNatter: turn the video off and pay attention to the task at hand, please. After all, paying attention is the least you can do for your constituents. Who knows, maybe once you start paying attention you will eventually learn what occurs in the House and become more capable of making an informed decision on current legislation. Stranger things have happened!

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?

Connecting the Dots: ALEC......to......Indiana - PART 3



Click here to Review Part 2

By Heath Johnson

Attack on Teachers Unions

Other "model" legislation has ALEC's DNA all over it.   Consider SB 312 (Sen. Jim Smith-R) or HB 1334 (Rep. Jeff Thompson and Rep. Woody Burton), which prohibits a school employer from deducting union dues from a teacher's salary.

This piece of legislation was adopted by the Commerce, Insurance, and Economic Development Task Force at the States and Nation Policy Summit, December 2, 1998 and was approved by the ALEC Board of Directors January 1999.

http://alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c9/1R9-Public_Employer_Payroll_Deduction_Policy_Act_Exposed.pdf

Language from this model legislation was reintroduced by Goldwater Institute representative, Byron Schlomach.

More on Virtual Schools
2011's HEA 1002 set into motion the establishment of virtual charter schools in Indiana.  Some of these schools, by the way, employ teachers in other states.  Choice scholarships may now be used to pay student tuition as well as the salaries of these out-of-state teachers.   At the same time, the Republican legislature supported huge cuts to the public education budget, leading to the loss of thousands of Indiana teaching jobs.  Both the choice scholarship legislation and the virtual school language are ALEC-derived.  The choice scholarship is set to be expanded in the 2013 session.   While conservative state lawmakers supported the Mitch Daniels budget slashes to public education, leading to thousands of teacher layoffs, those same lawmakers supported legislation to expand virtual schools.

http://www.thenation.com/article/164651/how-online-learning-companies-bought-americas-schools?page=0,0

As mentioned earlier, the Virtual Public Schools Act was presented on December 4, 2004.  This act provides students and families the choice of using virtual schools to "further the education" of their children.  Model legislation was authored by two virtual school companies,  K12 Inc. and Connections Academy.

So, how has K12 Inc. performed?  Not well here in Indiana and not well in other states.  While managing 2 of the 7 failing charter schools sponsored by Ball State University, they have had huge problems in other "education reform" states as well. 

This ALEC model legislation was also introduced verbatim in Tennessee.  Tennessee’s State Rep. Harry Brooks and State Sen. Dolores Gresham,both ALEC Education Task Force members, introduced the bill to their respective houses nearly verbatim, even using the same title (http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/03/01/kappan_underwood.html). 

Tennessee:  K12Inc has sponsored school in Tennessee was just caught doctoring grades.  They have the internal emails where management directed its teachers to review their grade books and delete assignments that had an abnormally high number of failing grades.

http://www.newschannel5.com/story/21129693/email-directs-teachers-to-delete-bad-grades

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/12/republican-backed-for-profit-school-caught-deleting-bad-student-grades/

Florida:  K12Inc is under investigation in Florida for allegedly using non-certified teachers and instructing certified teachers to sign class rosters that included students they hadn’t taught.

http://stateimpact.npr.org/florida/2012/09/11/florida-investigates-k12-nations-largest-online-educator/

http://stateimpact.npr.org/florida/2012/09/30/florida-districts-fight-k12s-plan-for-virtual-charter-schools-more-flexibility-or-less-oversight/

Georgia:  K12Inc is under investigation in Georgia for allegedly violating "critical federal special education laws and regulations."

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/georgia-doe-blasts-georgia-cyber-academy-threatens/nTBmZ/

Colorado:  "...the National Education Policy Center (NEPC) at the University of Colorado shows that students at K12 Inc., ....are falling further behind in reading and math scores than students in brick-and-mortar schools" and "are also less likely to remain at their schools for the full year, and the schools have low graduate rates."

http://nepc.colorado.edu/newsletter/2012/07/understanding-improving-virtual 

Remember:  "It's all about the kids."    So, given K12 Inc's shaky track record, how has it managed its finances?   K12 Inc's (ticker symbol LRN) corporate revenue and profits are at an all-time high and that annual trend is looking to continue.  That makes sense, considering Republican legislatures from around the country passed legislation opening the door for virtual schools.

Balance Sheet 

Notice what happens to K12Inc's bottom line right after the nationwide expansion of virtual schools and the use of vouchers to pay for it.

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=LRN+Balance+Sheet&annual

Income Statement

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/is?s=LRN+Income+Statement&annual

These are but a few examples and, as you've probably gathered, I'm ready for a fight.   I want a representative government, one whose legislators understand that they are our employees not one whose legislators are sucking at the corporate teat.  

Help Connect the Dots and End the Cigar Parties

In early February, 2013 I engaged Sen. Brandt Hershman and Rep. Heath VanNatter about their involvement with ALEC and ALEC's role in authoring legislation.   Sen. Hershman responded by claiming, "the idea that corporations are feeding legislation to us is just silly." -- Refer to the 2/19/2013 edition of the Frankfort Times. 

Also, February 2013, I chose to email the Indiana General Assembly about SB 312 and HB 1334, outlining my objections and what I knew about ALEC.  I received a reply from Senator Jim Buck (ALEC State Chairman and ALEC Board of Directors), where he insinuated that I was drunk and not qualified to be a teacher.  How am I supposed to respond to that?   We educate and we fight.   

Educate everyone and demand that your legislators be held accountable with respect to their actions with ALEC!   Expose ALEC legislators and identify ALEC-authored legislation.   I've found that most people have no clue who ALEC is and how they affect their lives.   That must change or the corporate-sponsored cigar parties will continue. 

Below are some important links which may help get you started.

Commoncause.org has filed a complaint about ALEC with the IRS.   They have collected and released over 4,000 pages of ALEC documents.  The 35-day taskforce mailers, outlining "model bills" are here:

http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=8097075

The ALEC Bylaws from 2007 (the latest I could find)., outlining who gets to vote (corporations and legislators) are here:

http://www.prwatch.org/files/ALEC_bylaws.pdf

NPR's Bill Moyers has produced an incredible documentary outlining what ALEC is doing.

http://billmoyers.com/segment/united-states-of-alec/

ALEC Explained in 5 Minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azSUHpAb_E4

A list of ALEC Corporations (use this and followthemoney.org to track campaign financing)

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Corporations

ALEC Exposed is a great site to research model bills, ALEC member corporations, and AEC legislators.

http://alecexposed.org

http://alecexposed.org/wiki/Bills_Affecting_Americans%27_Rights_to_a_Public_Education