Currently both the House and Senate Education Committees are meeting. ISTA is covering each on this busy day at the Statehouse.

Senate Education Committee is hearing SB 55. The bill deals with school referenda. Bill would prevent districts awarding bonuses to administrators for success of a referenda. Also would require district to approve a plan on using referenda before putting question on ballot.

ISTA testifies over concerns in making referenda even more arduous. ISTA also recognizes that Sen. Bohacek’s chief aim with the bill is to ensure that referenda dollars are expended in a manner consistent with public understanding. ISTA supports that aim.

The Senate Education Committee is now hearing SB 124 which would prohibit public schools from beginning the school year before Labor Day.

ISTA opposes SB 124. We believe in the concept of local control of school calendars as they directly impact the local community.

The House Education Committee is now hearing HB 1438. This bill deals with the state's current course access program.

This program was created in 2017 and provides an individual voucher to students so they can attend a course believed not offered by their public school. The student's public school pays for the course.

Rep. Cook says he's concerned previous DOE administration didn't expand program as broadly as envisioned. The program would be transferred from the DOE to the state board of education.

ISTA testifying on HB 1438 says it expressed issues over the original course access program in 2017 as it would any program that invites the diversion of public education funding away from public education.

The need for transferring program from DOE is curious, especially in light of the fact there exists statutory alignment among the governor’s office, the DOE and the SBOE, whose members include the secretary of education of the DOE and a super-majority of gubernatorial appointees.

According to the DOE’s 2019 – 20 report on course access programming, there are currently eight approved course providers, 131 enrollments and a count of 182 courses from authorized course providers.

ISTA continues to register its concern over this program that, under the letter of the law, continues to detail very few details in its implementation standards or expectations other than a diversion of funds away from public school programming.

The Senate Education Committee is now hearing SB 333. Among other things, the bill would change the makeup of the State Board of Education. The bill would give the legislature more appointments to the board. At least one member would be required to be a CEO or own a business.

The House Education Committee is now hearing HB 1553. The bill would provide another avenue for students to qualify for the Next Generation Hoosier Educator Scholarship.

The scholarship was enacted in 2016 to provide 200 high-achieving high school and college students interested in pursuing a career in education the opportunity to earn a renewable scholarship of up to $7,500 each year for four academic years.

In addition to adding qualification through GPA, the bill specifically adds that priority should also be given to an individual whose household annual income is not more than the amount qualifying the individual for a free- or reduced-price lunch.

ISTA supports HB 1553 and thanks Chairman Behning for proposing these changes. The state’s investment in a cadre of future teachers is both noted and needed.