Legislative Update, April 7
04/07/2017
Committees concluded for the session, but bills can still change through the ongoing conference committees.
We have several action items on our advocacy site. Please take a moment this weekend to contact your representatives and senators.
If you haven't yet, register to attend the April 12 Day of Action, the last of the 2017 legislative session.
Below are the top education-related bills ISTA tracked this week. For updates from the Statehouse, read our posts on Twitter at @ISTAmembers.
HB 1001 (Rep. Brown, R - Crawfordsville) Biennial Budget/School Funding Formula
This is the state's biennial budget, which also contains the state school funding formula.
The Senate's version of the state budget passed off of 3rd reading on Thursday, after accepting two minor education-related amendments and rejecting several others by Senate Democrats.
ISTA appreciates the increased overall statewide funding levels and asks that legislators continue to work to provide more funding (the next state revenue forecast is scheduled for April 12), including the restoration of $80 million for teacher compensation. ISTA remains concerned about the rapid transition in how career and technical education funding will evolve.
For a more detailed evaluation of the Senate's budget, read our full review. The Senate's funding formula, which shows school funding levels, can be found on the Senate Republicans' website.
Status: The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 39-9 and is returned to the House for further action in conference committee.
HB 1003 (Rep. Behning, R - Indianapolis) Student Assessments
This bill would extend the replacement of ISTEP until June 30, 2018, when a new statewide test, known as Indiana's Learning Evaluation Assessment Readiness Network (ILEARN), would take its place. The purpose of ILEARN is to develop an assessment that is student-centered and provides timely and meaningful information to stakeholders on grade-level proficiency and growth toward college and career readiness standards.
The bill continues to base teacher evaluations and school accountability grades on standardized test scores - a concept several legislators are realizing is the wrong direction for teacher evaluations. The bill also does not go far enough to reduce student testing time or provide a meaningful assessment for teachers to improve instructional practices in the classroom or tailor instruction.
Status: Passed the Senate 32-16. This bill is being returned to the House with amendments and will likely go to conference for further debate.
HB 1004 (Rep. Behning, R - Indianapolis) Pre-K Expansion
HB 1004 would expand the state's pre-K education pilot program to any eligible provider in the state. The bill would conservatively increase spending on the pilot program, totaling $16 million. However, $1 million of that would be set aside for a virtual pre-K program. This funding was included in the Senate version of HB 1001.
Status: HB 1004 passed the Senate 38-11 and is being returned to the House with amendments and will likely go to conference committee for further debate.
HB 1005 (Rep. Bosma, R - Indianapolis) Appointed Superintendent of Public Instruction
HB 1005 would eliminate the election of the superintendent of public instruction from state law and would replace the state superintendent with a secretary of education, who would be appointed by the governor.
Status: The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 28-20, with five senators changing their votes to "no" on SB 179, which was a similar bill removing the election of the superintendent.
HB 1007 (Rep. Cook, R - Cicero) Education Course Access Program
This bill would create a course-by-course voucher program to enable students to pay for online courses, funded through the allotment of funds attributable to a student's public school district's education program. In effect, the operation of this bill would force school districts to contract some of their educational services at a student's request. This is a model bill being promoted by the controversial organization, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
For-profit, online or virtual charter schools have a disastrous record of failing students and avoiding accountability, not just in Indiana, but around the country. ISTA opposes any further fund diversions from community public schools to fund these experiments. School districts already arrange alternative courses for students when authentic needs arise relative to course offerings. This bill is part of a national agenda promoting the privatization of public education.
Status: The bill passed the Senate 40-8. Because the bill was amended on the Senate side, it returns to the House.
HB 1384 (Rep. Behning, R - Indianapolis) High School Graduation/Removal of Accountability for Voucher Schools
This bill originally focused on the calculation of graduation rates, but an amendment was added in the House Education committee that would enable D and F private voucher schools to skirt the existing accountability standards.
Under current law, if a private voucher school has two consecutive years as a D or F school, it loses its right to receive vouchers. Under this bill, the state board of education would be allowed to annually grant a waiver or a delay of that accountability sanction, if, "a majority of students demonstrated academic improvement," from the prior year.
The new private school standard of demonstrating academic improvement is not the same thing as standardized test scores, which drives accountability for public schools. The bill would also remove a second window for enrolling students in voucher schools occurring in the second semester.
The Senate, on 2nd reading, restored the second semester window for private schools.
ISTA opposes this bill in its current form.
Take Action: Tell legislators to oppose keeping kids in failing private voucher schools.
Status: The bill passed the Senate 36-12 and returns to the House with amendments where it may be considered for further debate in conference committee.
SB 409 (Sen. Erin Houchin, R - Salem) Collective Bargaining
The bill would change collective bargaining dates to Sept. 15 and adjusts other dates so that both parties have better estimates of Average Daily Membership (ADM) counts and insurance premiums. The bill would provide better information for bargaining units.
Status: The bill passed the House 99-0 and will likely be consented upon by the original author.
SB 498 (Sen. Jeff Raatz, R - Centreville) Teacher Compensation
The bill would restore master's compensation after a misinterpretation by the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board, which previously stated teachers should only receive a pay increase for the first year they "attained" a degree. The bill would clarify that teachers with a master's degree receive pay increases for "possession" of a master's. The bill would also clarify reciprocity language making it easier for out-of-state teachers to come to Indiana.
Status: The bill passed the House 99-0 without amendment and will by-pass conference committee on its way to the Governor.
SB 567 (Sen. Kenley, R - Noblesville and Sen. Melton, D - Gary) Distressed School Districts
Originally, this bill was drafted to assist the Gary Community Schools with some extreme financial issues.
However, in a last-minute move, House Ways & Means Committee Chair Tim Brown (R - Crawfordsville) pushed through amendments to the bill in committee, which would add Muncie Community Schools (MCS) as a distressed school district requiring state takeover under the direction of an emergency manager
Read more about the bill and its impact on ISTA's blog.
ISTA strongly opposes the inclusion of MCS and other changes made to SB 567.
STATUS: SB 567 passed out of the House 77-19 with amendments and is eligible for further debate in conference committee.
TAKE ACTION: Please contact your representative and your senator to oppose this bill.
LOOKING AHEAD
Next week will decide the fate of bills through filing of concurrences and dissents by the original authors of each bill. In the case of dissents, conference committees will be convened. The 2017 General Assembly is expected to conclude by Friday, April 21.