Week in Review: Smoking ban and education initiatives move

Committee hearings have come to a close as the Indiana General Assembly works toward a March 14 legislative session deadline. Legislation that moves through the second house without amendments will proceed to the governor for final consideration. Bills amended by the opposite chamber must return to the house of origin for consideration of changes made. This summary highlights some of the House bills that have gained approval in Senate committees or by the full Senate.

Statewide smoking ban

The Senate Public Policy Committee has approved HB 1149, a bill that would establish a statewide smoking ban in most public areas and places of employment. Exclusions in the bill include certain gaming facilities; cigar and hookah bars; fraternal, social and veterans’ clubs; tobacco stores; and cigar manufacturer facilities. Bars and taverns would have until September 15, 2013, to become smoke-free. The bill would make it a Class B infraction to violate the smoking prohibition or a Class A infraction if the person has committed three prior violations for smoking in restricted areas. In addition, the bill would prohibit firing or refusing to hire a person for reporting a violation, or exercising any right or performing any obligation under the smoking prohibition. Over the past several years, the smoking ban bill has passed the House, but never made it past Senate committee deliberations. HB 1149 now proceeds to the full Senate for further consideration.

New Family Friendly School Designation Program

Achieving student success through more parental involvement in schools is the goal of House Bill (HB) 1150. The bill seeks to urge parents to become more involved with student success by encouraging meaningful engagement in schools. HB 1150 would establish the Indiana Family Friendly School Designation Program and require the Department of Education to develop a program for designating certain schools as being “Family Friendly.” Any school could voluntarily seek the designation by demonstrating that the school provides multiple opportunities for parents to engage in educational activities and programs offered by the school that foster high student achievement. The bill will now advance to the Senate floor for consideration by the full body.

Week in review: Assistance for military service members, education initiatives, drug testing public assistance recipients and more

The Indiana General Assembly is moving rapidly through the second half of session as senators face a February 23 committee hearing deadline. Legislation that moves through the second house without amendments will proceed to the governor for final consideration. Bills amended by the opposite chamber must return to the house of origin for consideration of changes made. This summary highlights some of the bills now moving through the Senate.

Assistance for military service members

HB 1059 would extend financial assistance available to military service members and their families through the Military Family Relief Fund. The Senate Homeland Security, Transportation and Veterans Affairs Committee approved the bill, which would extend from one year to three years the time that a service member or a service member’s dependent may be eligible to receive assistance. Emergency grants up to $5,000 may be awarded to families in need of assistance for needs such as food, housing, utilities, medical services, transportation and other essential family support expenses. The relief fund is primarily funded through the sale of “Support Our Troops” license plates. As of August 31, 2011, the Indiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs reported that the fund had awarded approximately $751,000 to 262 families since it was created in 2007.

Home energy assistance

The Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee approved HB 1141, which would restore the state sales tax exemption that expired in 2009 for home energy assistance acquired through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Under the bill, the home energy costs paid through the program would be exempt from June 30, 2012, to July 1, 2020. The state sales tax exemption allows more of the assistance funds to go directly to utility costs and weatherization efforts.

Indiana’s program is divided into two components: the Energy Assistance Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program. The program is primarily funded through the federal LIHEAP block grant.

Households earning up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for assistance through LIHEAP. The most vulnerable persons—the disabled, elderly, and households with a child under six years of age—are given top priority. LIHEAP offset the costs of heating for approximately 168,000 low-income households in Indiana last year.

Broden mid-session update: smoking ban, public-ed funding

Watch the video below to see Senator Broden discuss his hope to pass a local-first smoking ban and restore funding to public schools in the second half of the 2012 legislative session.

Education bills awaiting committee hearings

Members of the Indiana Senate Democratic caucus have filed a legislative package for the 2012 General Assembly that would increase access for Hoosier children to early education and provide oversight and accountability for education funds. As part of the Senate Democrats’ 2012 Legislative Agenda, the caucus members are now actively seeking hearings for these bills in the senate standing committees.

Studies consistently show students with access to quality early education that takes place before Kindergarten score higher on achievement tests, graduate from high school at a higher rate and are more likely to attend college.  Creating an office of child development and early learning and providing early education grant opportunities for middle income parents are two courses of action the Senate Democrats have offered as a way to bring quality early education to more Hoosier children.

As Indiana’s economy continues to struggle, it is important to ensure that every taxpayer dollar spent on education is used in the most effective way. Creating oversight for private schools receiving vouchers and for private organizations contracted for “turnaround schools” are two ideas the Senate Democrats are focusing on to guarantee that school dollars are spent wisely.

To voice your support for these bills: Contact your State Senator and members of the senate standing committee to which the bill has been assigned (see committee assignments at the end of each bill description). Contact information for every State Senator is available on the General Assembly’s website.

2012 Education Bills:

Senate Bill 288: Office of Child Development and Early Learning:

Creating an effective education system that incorporates early education will benefit generations of Hoosiers. By creating the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, the proposed legislation encourages the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) and the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) to streamline their efforts and create an education plan that includes developmental benchmarks for Pre-K education. The bill is authored by Sen. Earline Rogers (D-Gary).

Senate Committee: Education and Career Development

Senate Bill 204: Early education grant opportunities for middle income parents:

Until early education is integrated into Indiana’s traditional public school system, middle income children deserve access to preschool learning during those critical years. Senate Bill 204 would provide state-funded grants for middle income families with earnings that put them outside the eligibility for federal assistance programs, but who still need support paying for preschool classes. A sliding scale fee based on income would determine eligibility and grant amounts. The bill is authored by Sen. Jean Breaux (D-Indianapolis).

Senate Committee: Education and Career Development

Senate Bill 214: Oversight of private schools receiving vouchers:

Requiring both an annual fiscal audit of any private school receiving public money and compelling IDOE to both track and publish those schools’ performance data allows Hoosier parents to compare schools more accurately and make the right decision for their children. The legislation would also limit to three percent how much of each taxpayer funded voucher could be used toward administrative costs at private schools. This bill is authored by Sen. Tim Skinner (D-Terre Haute).

Senate Committee: Education and Career Development

Senate Bill 290: Oversight of turnaround school management organizations:

Senate Bill 290 would provide legislative guidance for the oversight of organizations contracted by the state to take over underachieving public schools. The legislation would give the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) specific standards to regulate those private organizations contracted for public school takeovers. This legislation is authored by Sen. Earline Rogers (D-Gary).

Senate Committee: Education and Career Development

Tree Trimming 2011: “Made in Indiana”

On Wednesday, December 14 approximately 300 students spanning grades 2 – 6 gathered at the Indiana Statehouse to trim the holiday tree.  Students were encouraged to create ornaments that depicted anything made or originating in Indiana.  View photos of the festive event below:

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Follow this link to see ornaments selected as “outstanding” by First Lady Cheri Daniels>>

Video: Sen. Hume will push for the creation of living wage jobs in 2012 legislative session

Sen. Lindel Hume (D-Princeton) notes the necessity of not only creating jobs, but creating jobs that pay wages that allow Hoosiers a level of income security and to pursue a strong education for their children.

Save the Date: Student activities abound at the Statehouse

Indiana Statehood Day (Dec. 9): 

Every December, students from across the state gather in Indianapolis to celebrate the day Indiana became the 19th state.  During the Statehood Day celebration, students have the opportunity to explore the Statehouse, State Library, and State Museum.
This year’s Statehood Day celebration will be held on Friday, December 9th.  Festivities will include:

• Guest speakers from the three branches of state government

• Bagpipers, Color Guard, special music presentation

• Reading of the winning essay by its author (see additional information about entering Statehood Day essay contest)

• Installation of the original copies of Indiana’s 1816 and 1851 State Constitutions by the State Archivist, into a specially designed display case in the Capitol Rotunda.

Principals and teachers may contact the Capitol Tour Office to make  reservations for Statehood Day activities at (317) 233-5293 or jhodge@idoa.in.gov.

See photos from last year’s Statehood Day>>

Holiday Tree Trimming (Dec. 14):

Each year students from across the state gather in the Statehouse rotunda to trim the Statehouse Christmas Tree with ornaments of their own creation.  This year students are invited to attend the ceremony on Wednesday, December 14.  Last year’s ornament theme was “Holiday Tales from the Heart,” with an emphasis on literacy.  Students wrote and decorated books about their favorite holiday memories, which were then hung as ornaments on the tree.  Stay tuned for more details about this year’s theme.

View photos from last year’s tree trimming>>

Be a Senate Page (Jan. 4- March 14):

Serving as a page for the Indiana State Senate gives students grades 6-12 a first-hand glimpse of how the legislative process works. Students may currently apply to serve as a page for the 2012 legislative session, which runs January 4 through March 14.

Read more about the page application process>>

2011 Focus: Education Matters

The Indiana General Assembly considered a number of measures related to education, and the following summary briefly describes some of the bills that were approved:

School vouchers:

A plan to redirect state funds from public schools to pay for tuition and fees at private schools through a state voucher program has been sent to the governor for his signature. Under House Enrolled Act 1003, families who qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch program (annual income less than $40,800 for a family of four), will be eligible to receive a voucher equal to 90 percent of the public school corporation’s per-pupil funding. With a household income of about $61,000, a student could receive a voucher in the amount of 50 percent of the school corporation’s per-pupil funding. The maximum voucher amount for students in grades 1 through 8 will be limited to $4,500 per school year. The act includes a short phase-in period allowing up to 7,500 available for the 2011-2012 school year, 15,000 available for the 2012-2013 school year, and no cap after that.

Charter schools:

House Enrolled Act 1002 is the state’s plan for the expansion of charter schools and virtual charter schools in Indiana. HEA 1002 would expand charter school sponsors to include universities and private colleges with 4-year education programs, the mayor of Indianapolis, education service centers and a newly created statewide charter board. For any group other than a mayor to sponsor a charter, a public hearing would be required within the district.  The act would allow conversion from a traditional public school to a charter school if the school board votes in favor of conversion or if 51 percent of the parents in a school sign a petition requesting conversion to a charter school.  It would also make unused public school buildings available for rent or purchase to charter schools. The act has been amended to require 90 percent of charter school teachers be licensed or in the process of obtaining a teaching license. Public funding available to virtual charter schools would be expanded and the current limit on the number of students statewide that can be enrolled in those schools at state expense would be eliminated.

Teachers:

Controversial legislation limiting teacher collective bargaining rights was signed into law April 20. Senate Enrolled Act 575 will limit what may be collectively bargained by teachers to salary, wages, hours, paid time off and wage-related benefits including retirement. Two immediate changes will limit contract terms to end with the state’s two-year budget cycle and stop negotiations on teacher evaluation procedures and criteria. Among other provisions, the new law will terminate current terms of the members of the Indiana Education Relations Board effective upon passage. New members will be replaced with appointments made by the governor.

Legislation tying teacher evaluations to student performance and test scores has been approved by the General Assembly and now awaits the governor’s final approval. Senate Enrolled Act 1 establishes an annual staff performance evaluation that categorizes teachers as highly effective, effective, improvement necessary or ineffective. Although the act will not cut teachers’ pay, it will allow schools to withhold salary increases due to poor performance ratings. Salary raises based upon completion of additional college degrees or graduate credit hours will not be permitted under the act. A teacher’s seniority must not account for more than 33 percent of the basis for salary increases. However, the local salary structure may still be collectively bargained. The act exempts charter schools from due process requirements for educators.

Senate Enrolled Act 1 also provides that a student may not be instructed for two consecutive years by two different teachers who have been rated as “ineffective,” if avoidable. If not avoidable, parents must be notified prior to the start of the second consecutive school year. A teacher who receives a rating of ineffective, under the act, will be considered a probationary teacher. If that teacher receives a rating of ineffective in the year immediately following their original rating, their contract may be terminated. On the other hand, a teacher who enters into a contract after receiving 3 “effective” ratings in a row during a 5-year period will be considered “established,” and their contract will then be considered “indefinite” until they receive a rating of “ineffective” two or more years in a row or a new contract is established. If a school corporation plans to modify its staff evaluation plan, it must submit the plan to the Department of Education for approval in order to qualify for any grant funding.

Education funding:

The new state budget (House Enrolled Act 1) for fiscal years 2011-2013 establishes a new funding “base” for K-12 education, the largest appropriation in the state budget. The new funding base incorporates the governor’s 2010 $300 million cut as a permanent base reduction. The budget makes other changes in the state’s school funding formula, including the elimination of a phase-out funding provision for schools that lose students as well as grants for small schools. Democrats also expressed concern over the unforeseen implications of new charter school, virtual charter school and voucher laws that could result in even fewer dollars available to traditional public schools.

While more funding has been committed to full day kindergarten under the plan, the additional dollars will not guarantee full day kindergarten for every child in Indiana’s public schools. The additional dollars will expand the number of schools receiving state grants that partly pay for kindergarten, but parents will likely still need to contribute as much as $2,000 per child in many schools.

The budget includes a new $1,000 tax deduction that will be provided to families with children in private schools and an “early graduation scholarship” of $4,000 to a student who graduates from high school before grade 12. The early graduation funds will be deducted from the student’s high school’s funding.

Another new K-12 provision contained in the budget will allow the Indiana Department of Education to bring private companies to take over public schools after five years of poor performance. Referred to as “turnaround academies,” the schools will be managed by private companies.

Total general fund appropriations for the state’s universities will be $14.8 million less in 2012 compared to 2011, and down $10.1 million from 2013 to 2011.

Sen. Tallian on education reform from the 2011 session

Published June 1, 2011 Legislation , Senator Tallian Closed
Tags: 2011 General Assembly, 2011 legislation, education, education reform, Public schools

 

From the Desk of State Senator Karen Tallian: Education Update

June 2011

 

Thanks to everyone who contacted me about the recent changes to our state’s education system. I appreciate your input on this very important public policy issue.

This year the Indiana General Assembly passed, and Governor Daniels immediately signed, legislation that substantially diverts money from traditional public schools and funnels funds to private schools and charter schools. I opposed both bills.

House Enrolled Act 1002 expands charter schools in our state in an unprecedented manner. Charter schools have been sold as an alternative to traditional public schools, to offer students another venue to succeed.  However, it is interesting to note that 8 out of the 10 bottom schools in ISTEP passage rates are charter schools and 21 out of the bottom 40 schools in ISTEP passage rates are charter schools. These numbers are baffling to me. Why would the state choose to provide more money for more charter schools and make it easier for children to move into underperforming institutions? This isn’t to say that traditional public schools don’t have problems- they do indeed.

Getting to know Senator Tim Skinner- candid thoughts on the legislative process

Published May 10, 2011 Senator Skinner Closed
Tags: education, education reform, Indiana Senate, Indiana Senate Democrats, Public schools

Elected to the State Senate in 2002, Tim Skinner is a teacher of economics, government and geography at West Vigo High School in Terre Haute. Prior to joining the General Assembly, he served on the Vigo County Council.

What were some of the biggest issues facing Indiana when you were considering running for the senate?
Education was my biggest issue. My goal before becoming a senator was to try and do something positive for students and schools. I wanted to help draft legislation that would increase graduation rates, improve the quality of education in Indiana and ensure that education was adequately funded.
This year in particular has been devastating for public education. Morale is as bad as I have ever seen it at my school due to the anti-teacher legislation coming from the statehouse.

Can you highlight some of the legislation you worked on this year?
I have worked extensively on legislation to address the huge methamphetamine problem plaguing my district. I have been trying to make medications used to make meth available by prescription only. This year my bill on that issue didn’t get a hearing in the Senate. However, we did have a good discussion that provided education to members of the Senate on how much meth costs our state. I intend to bring this legislation back.

During this legislative session, what are some of the issues you fought for that could affect people living in District 38?
We have talked about everything this session except jobs. The governor has ignored the major issue of promoting job creation, and you’d think he’d be doing anything he could to get jobs in our state. Instead he’s been picking on teachers and workers.
My constituents have been very vocal in crackerbarrel sessions (public meetings) this year. They are also constantly communicating with me via email. I’ve noticed huge masses of people jumping on the governor’s education reform.

I’ve also received a lot of calls about the governor cutting the CHOICE program. There are rural health clinics in my district, and my constituents are very concerned about there being enough money to keep these vital services available.

How would you encourage people to get involved with the legislative process and engage with you as their State Senator?
People need to make themselves aware of the issues, and I’ve seen an improvement of that this year compared to past years. People who are newly engaged in the political process need to take action. More than 600 teachers and union members attended one of the crackerbarrel meetings in Terre Haute this spring and they did a great job of expressing their concerns. Now they need to go to the polls and vote with their convictions. Every teacher and union member should realize how important their vote is after this session.

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