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.

TAKE ACTION NOW - APRIL 24, 2013

 

 

House Bill 1003 – Voucher Expansion

The word going around the Statehouse on Tuesday was that a conference committee on voucher expansion was planning to give vouchers to all who live in attendance areas of “D” schools as well as “F” schools. This move would be a huge expansion, even beyond the Senate version of the number of students that would get vouchers for living in the attendance areas of failing schools. Instead of 148 F school areas, it would affect 389 D or F schools. That is 18.6% of all schools. Remember, this uses the flawed and widely disrespected A-F system introduced by Tony Bennett last October.

Let your Senator and Representative in the House know that using the flawed A-F system to give vouchers to 18% of Indiana’s school attendance areas is wrong. It will unfairly impact too many schools that were graded unjustly under the A-F system. They should vote HB 1003 down until a revised A-F system that has the confidence of the public is in place.

The Conference Committee report is expected soon which meshes the Senate version and the House version of voucher expansion. Then both houses must pass the final report one more time. We are hoping that changes made in the final version of the bill will lead legislators who voted for vouchers the first time around to decide to vote it down in the final vote. Your messages to them about the A-F system may motivate them to switch.

Contact your Senator and ask them to VOTE NO on HB1003

Several of the Senators are seriously in a tough spot now that House leader Behning changed the bill. Let them hear from the mountaintops! Shout it out! Stand up for your local schools! This bill doesn't make any sense, but it sure does take a lot dollars out of your community!

Specifically contact these senators who appear to be waivering due to Behning's changes.

Rodric Bray s37@in.gov  
Jean Leising s42@in.gov
Johnny Nugent s43@in.gov
Luke Kenly s20@in.gov
Dennis Kruse s14@in.gov
Greg Walker s41@in.gov 
Brent Waltz s36@in.gov
Brent Steele s44@in.gov
 

Copy the following letter and Paste into your message.

Dear Senator,

I was astounded and sorely disappointed by your vote for Hb1003. The House version coming back over to the Senate is estimated to cost traditional public schools $100 million in four short years. Traditional public education can not survive and effectively instruct the children of our state while taking that type of cut in funding on top of the original $300 million cut that was never fully restored.

But an opportunity exist for redemption. When the amended House version arrives which has been modified by Representative Behning to be even more damaging to traditional public schools than the Senate version, just vote NO.

Will be watching with interest and hopeful anticipation,

Sign your name and send.

 

HB1338 – Charter School Administration and A-F Revisions

This new version of HB 1338 is 39 pages long, and the last four pages propose a rewrite of Public Law 221 to recreate the A-F system following Rep. Behning’s revision that he introduced early in the session in House Bill 1337.

One issue is that it uses the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s proposal for how to change PL221 that the House resoundingly voted down in HB 1337 back in February. It goes into prescriptive detail in telling the State Board how to prepare a new A-F system.

The other controversial addition to the new HB 1338 is to put the “A” through “F” labels in Indiana law. This proposal drew immediate opposition from Rep. Vernon Smith and Sen. Rogers during Monday’s brief conference committee meeting.

Let us remember what happened to this language back in February when it was pages 2-4 of House Bill 1337. It was defeated decisively 61-33, with 31 members of the Republican caucus turning against it.

We need to ask them to turn against it AGAIN!

 

Senate Bill 189

SB 189 originated as a bill to provide some flexibility to school districts that were... deemed "A" districts. One of the key issues embedded in ESB 189 has been enabling "high-performing" districts to have calendar flexibility (ie. to allocate the 180-day school year into equivalent hours/minutes and not be bound by 180 separate days of instruction).

The House sponsor, Representative Todd Huston (R-Fishers) amended ESB 189 to remove the 180-day calendar year flexibility and he replaced it with enabling high-schoolers at "qualified high schools" to go to school for something less than a six-hour instructional day-in effect, as the bill read, "a student instructional day for a qualified high school consists of 'any amount of instructional time'."

At its core, SB 189 has become a "high school redesign" reform bill and at the very least, this new concept has funding implications, accountability implications, virtual education issues, student safety implications, teacher force implications, and taxpayer implications.  

The proposed Conference Committee Report did not "fix" any of these concerns.

In fact, it makes it clear that any student activity that is organized by the "A" grade district, an "A" grade high school, or a "waiver" high school that "occurs outside the traditional classroom" and is "designed to provide instruction or academic enrichment" is considered student instructional time. In effect, outside activities are on a par in value to classroom instruction.
 

While it didn't start out that way, SB 189 has become yet another major education reform-this time with minimal public input since this new high school concept was not inserted until later in the 2nd half of the session.
 

Please contact both your Representative and your Senator to  OPPOSE Conference Committee Report #1 to SB 189.
 
Special Thanks to Vic Smith and to Keep the Promise Indiana for providing helpful information.

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! 

CALL TO ACTION - NO to HB1003

Tomorrow, April 8, 2013, your Indiana State Senate will take a vote on HB 1003 - Voucher Expansion. 

YOU MUST ACT NOW!

It is time to show our legislators the power of 1.3 million voices.  We spoke up in November and sent Tony Bennett to Florida when WE elected Glenda Ritz.  We need to speak up again and tell our senators to once again VOTE NO on HB 1003. 

Now is not the time to rob more money from our public schools in the form of vouchers for private school students.  We can not afford to continually take money from our PUBLIC schools to finance private parochial and charter school corporations.  We MUST stand up and be heard, loud and clear, once again.

Contact your Senators TODAY and let them know that you will accept nothing but a NO vote on this funding fiasco they call voucher expansion.  HB 1003 is a nightmare to our public schools. 


 

Click the Action button above to see what this bill does to PUBLIC schools.




22 Indiana Senators (out of 50) voted NO two years ago on the voucher bill. 
We need 26 to vote NO on the current voucher expansion bill!

 

That's how many State Senators WE need to vote NO on current voucher expansion bill.

26 Call them one-by-one and tell them to vote NO on HB 1003.

 

Just because the State Supreme court ruled they were okay, what's the rush? Why ram this bill through that will strip public money from local schools in a time when there is already NO new money?

If this bill passes, YOUR local school will be begging YOU for money in referendums, laying off more teachers, pushing 100's of fundraisers, cutting art/music and clubs, and reducing sports.

 

WAIT!!!!! They already do that - so multiply this by 100 times!!!!!

Vouchers aren't going anywhere. So, let's see if they work and how they can be funded without taking money from our already tight budgeted PUBLIC schools.

Email your State Senator, and call them. Then have 3 people you know do the same! TODAY

 

Click the image below to find contact information for your state senator.

 

 

 

Below is a list of Senators who need a little extra "push" and a reminder of what 1.3 million voices sound like when speaking in unison about our mission.  Let them know that we EXPECT them to act fiscally responsible toward our PUBLIC schools.  They must vote NO on HB 1003 to stop funnelling public tax dollars from PUBLIC schools to for profit private and charter schools and their corporate sponsors.

Banks, Jim - s017 - s17@iga.in.gov - R

Bray, Rodric - s037 - s37@iga.in.gov - R

Buck, Jim - s021 - s21@iga.in.gov - R

Charbonneau, Ed - s005 - s5@iga.in.gov - R

Kenley, Luke - s020 - s20@iga.in.gov - R

Kruse, Dennis - s014 - s14@iga.in.gov - R

Landske, Sue - s006 - s6@iga.in.gov - R

Schneider, Scott - s030 - s30@iga.in.gov - R

Walker, Greg - s041 - s41@iga.in.gov - R

Waltz, Brent - s036 - s36@iga.in.gov - R

TUESDAY TATTLER 9

So the Indiana Supreme Court ruled last week that the state's voucher program is legal; thus, allowing for public tax dollars to continue being used to finance private school tuition.

"We hold that the Indiana school voucher program, the choice scholarship program, is within the legislature's power under Article 8, Section 1, and that the enacted program does not violate either Section 4 or Section 6 of Article 1 of the Indiana Constitution," the justices wrote in the 5-0 decision.

It is important to note, that this ruling not only allows for a voucher program to finance private school tuition, but it also allows for these funds to be utilized for those private insititutions with a religious base.  Apparently the Supreme Court does not hold a belief that the Indiana Constitution calls for a separation of church and state when allowing our public tax dollars to finance the tuition of private paraochial schools.  However, just because the Supreme Court ruled vouchers to be constitutinally legal, it does not mean that they should be rapidly and continually expanded at the expense of our state's public schools.

At the legislative level the next step for the Voucher Expansion Bill (HB 1003) is the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee. Since HB 1003 had a fiscal cost, it was recommitted to the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee for approval in their final meeting this morning.  Senator Kenley is a member of this committee, so it would seem that his amendments will be accepted to reduce the fiscal cost and thus move the bill out of committee and to the full senate for a vote.  This could happen anytime between April 4 and April 10 making it vital for ALL senators to hear from PUBLIC education supporters in opposition to the Voucher Expansion Bill.

It is important to note that, even though Representative Robert Behning has assumed passage from the introduction of this bill,  that 21 current Senators voted against vouchers in 2011. That group forms a strong base for opposition to voucher expansion.  They should be thanked for their vote and asked to continue to vote against vouchers. They are: Republican Senators Alting, Becker, Boots, Head, Mishler, Nugent, Tomes, Waterman and Zakas. (9)
Democrat Senators Arnold, Breaux, Broden, Hume, Lanane, Mrvan, Randolph, Rogers, Skinner, Tallian, Taylor, Richard Young. (12)

It is just as important to note that there are 25 Senators who voted for vouchers in 2011 who are currently in the Senate. They should be reminded about the new additional fiscal costs for vouchers given to students who are already in private schools and asked to vote against expanding the voucher program at this time. They are: Republican Senators Banks, Buck, Charbonneau, Delph, Eckerty, Glick, Grooms, Hershman, Holdman, Kenley, Kruse, Landske, Leising, Long, Merritt, Pat Miller, Paul, Schneider, Smith, Steele, Walker, Waltz, Wyss, Yoder, and Michael Young,

There are also 4 Senators who are new to the Senate and did not vote on vouchers in 2011. They should be asked to hold to the original program and not expand vouchers due to the new excessive fiscal costs. They are: Republican Senators Bray, Crider and Pete Miller and Democrat Senator Stoops.

As you make your calls, send your emails, and write letters, be firm in your stance and remind your senators that this fiscal impact is not to be perceived as an effort to assist private school parents with tuition support, but it is a blatant swipe at our PUBLIC schools and robs them of much needed monies during some rough economic times.  It is vital that we make a strong push to encourage our senators to vote down HB1003 and leave the voucher program at current levels and hold of expanding an already costly program. 

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?

Mid-Term Grades: State Representative

Hoosier Mom's Public Education Grade Book

Spring 2013


It is that time in the legislative session when the Hoosier Mom must submit the mid-term 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:

HB 1003 - Voucher Program Expansion

HB 1334 - Singling Out Public School Employees & Freedom of Speech

HB1337 - Corporate Takeover of Schools Based On Fatally Flawed A-F Scale

HB1338 - Virtual Charter Expansion

HB 1357 - Deprofessionalization of School Administrators


There are many legislators who are failing to support public education. The Hoosier Mom suggests a voter takeover of these legislator's positions, especially if their grades do not improve over the course of the session. Accountability is the priority here: they must be held accountable to the voters.

Early intervention can also be important in changing a failing legislator's grades. Voters - please contact your failing legislators and provide early intervention services. They need direct remediation on the educational priorities for Hoosier children: the voters expect better from our legislators. This may require extra time on your part - services via phone calls, emails, visiting the statehouse, writing letters, etc. 

If we all work together, we can turn-around the grades of these failing legislators and re-direct their focus on providing a high-quality public education for all Hoosier children.

The gradebook is as follows:

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.