ISTA Releases 2026 Legislative Priorities as Session Gets Underway
01/09/2026

As the Indiana General Assembly resumes work this week, the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) has released its 2026 legislative priorities focused on educator and student safety, classroom conditions, fair compensation, strong public school funding and voter voice in school governance.

“Educators are telling us clearly what they need to do their jobs and support students,” said Jennifer Smith-Margraf, president of ISTA. “This session, we’re focused on practical policies that make schools safer, strengthen teaching and learning and ensure public schools have the resources and voice they need to serve every community.”

ISTA’s 2026 priorities include:

• Strengthening educator and student safety, including improved reporting and accountability for violence against educators and expanded collective bargaining rights so educators have a voice in working conditions.
• Improving classroom conditions and student learning through clear cell phone policies, responsible guardrails for artificial intelligence in schools, and accessible, no-cost professional development tied to new reading and math requirements.
• Fixing the Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG) and supporting fair educator pay by restoring fairness and collaboration and advancing long-term strategies to improve compensation.
• Protecting and strengthening public school funding, including a second-year funding increase, replacement revenue for property tax changes and ensuring school dollars are used as intended.
• Supporting education professionals, retirees and voter voice, including protections for education support professionals, support for retirees and advocacy for fully elected school boards.

“These priorities come directly from educators across Indiana,” Smith-Margraf said. “When educators have a voice, schools are safer, classrooms function better and students benefit.”

ISTA President Jennifer Smith-Margraf is available for interviews to discuss the association’s legislative priorities and educator perspectives as the session moves forward.

The full list of ISTA’s 2026 legislative priorities is available on ISTA’s website.