ASSOCIATION BEGINNINGS
As late as 1850, Indiana did not have a state-supported school system. Access to education was inadequate with the few locally supported schools charging tuitions or subscriptions to attend or limiting attendance to only white students. A group of forward-thinking educators and education supporters identified the need for an educated citizenry for the future health and stability of the state.
These public education supporters began advocating for a statewide public school system. The 1850 – 1851 constitutional convention directed the General Assembly, “to provide by law for a general and uniform system of common schools wherein tuition shall be without charge and equally open to all.” Under this direction, the legislature passed a statute levying state and local taxes to build and equip schools. However, the Indiana Supreme Court found the taxation of townships for the purpose of education to be unconstitutional. This detrimental ruling spurred public education supporters to action.
In December 1854, 175 public education supporters met in Indianapolis to form the Indiana State Teachers Association. Since its formation, ISTA has addressed issues such as the credentialing, institutionalizing, and professional development of educators, salary and benefits of educators, extending and standardizing the school year, ensuring access for all students, and of course, advocating for a robust allocation of state and local funding for the betterment of public education.
The lasting legacy of the Indiana State Teachers Association is a free public education system, open to every student in all communities across the state.
Our Timeline
December 25, 1854
ISTA is founded at Old College Hall, corner of Washington and Pennsylvania Streets, Indianapolis.
Spring 1872
ISTA succeeds in passing the first law providing for grading and consolidation of rural schools. By 1878, grading was almost statewide.
March 1877
The first law is passed permitting African American students to attend white schools in cases where no separate schools were provided.
1889
The first female president of ISTA, Emma Mont, insists that there be a uniform school term in Indiana and proposes the first uniform textbook law, which passes in 1889.
1911
Indiana leads the nation in consolidation.
1943 + 1945
Improved textbook laws are passed in 1943, and the multiple textbook laws are passed in 1945.
1951
ISTA moves to a delegate representative assembly.
1958
ISTA building is dedicated.
1967
ISTA opens regional offices.
1968
First master contract is bargained in Highland.
1972
The UniServ Program is started in Indiana. Indiana is unified with the National Education Association.
1973
With the powerful influence of ISTA, Public Law 217 was passed, making 1973 a crucial year in which education was politicized and teachers became organized and actively bargained.
1981
School funding increases by 11.5 percent.
1986
Equalization Factors are added to the School Formula.
ISTA becomes the first affiliate of the NEA to establish a separate not-for-profit corporation devoted to professional development concerns – the Indiana Fund for the Improvement of Education (IFIE), now the ISTA Foundation for the Improvement of Education.
1988
The ISTA division for Education Support Professionals is created.
1990
$200 million is appropriated for schools—the largest dollar increase ever.
ISTA becomes the first professional organization in the state to issue Certification Renewal Units (CRU) for its programs presented in cooperation with Performance Learning Systems at the Conference on Instruction.
1992
ISTA-Retired is created.
1994
There is a full repeal of contracting out legislation for school transportation services.
2004
ISTA celebrates 150th anniversary.
ISEA launches Outreach to Teach.
2007
Full funding of textbook costs for students eligible for free/reduced lunch is achieved.
Virtual charter schools are defeated.
2012
Glenda Ritz is elected as State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
2013
Rise Above the Mark, a documentary filmed and produced in Indiana, highlighted the impact of charter schools and vouchers on public education.
2014
A plan to privatize INPRS, preventing the loss of thousands in retirement savings for public employees, is defeated.
Outreach to Teach celebrates its 10th anniversary.
A lawsuit victory ensures associations can bargain with school corporations for hours worked outside of a regular teacher’s contract.
2015
ISTA lobbied on behalf of our members to secure a 2.3 percent spending increase for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, and 13th checks to be sent to PERF and TRF retirees.
IDOE study finds Indiana’s school voucher program doubled in cost for the second year in a row, costing the state $116 million in 2014.
Eric Hylton, ISTA legal counsel, named Best Lawyer in Indiana for education.
ISTA welcomes new Executive Director Dan Holub.