The Indiana legislative leaders and Indiana Governor Holcomb agree that raising teacher pay is a priority, but no one has an agreeable plan to achieve that goal yet. Holcomb has proposed a 3 percent raise in school funding over the next two years, hoping local districts funnel most of the money to raising teacher salaries. Meanwhile, Holcomb wants to create a study group to make recommendations on how to raise teachers salaries to compete with surrounding states. Holcomb is seeking a $210 million raise in school funding for next year, ‘but a new report from education advocacy groups says $658 million is needed to boost average teacher pay to the midpoint of Indiana's neighboring states.”
“A Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis study released last year found that Indiana's average teacher salary of $50,881 ranked 31st among the states when adjusted for cost of living differences — behind Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.”
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/02/03/indiana-debate-over-teacher-pay-boost_ap.html
Friday, February 8, 2019
Thursday, February 7, 2019
State superintendent on her exit from politics: ‘It’s follow the money on steroids’
Indiana State Superintendent Jennifer McCormick will not be running for re-election as legislators are poised to give the sitting governor the right to appoint a superintendent who will cater to the governor's desires for education policy. McCormick will leave the top educator position feeling frustrated that the job she took to make a difference for kids, was more about money and politics than what was best for students.
WTTV CBS4 POSTED 11:00 PM, FEBRUARY 6, 2019, BY MATT SMITH
WTTV CBS4 POSTED 11:00 PM, FEBRUARY 6, 2019, BY MATT SMITH
Friday, February 1, 2019
Lawmakers weigh bill to split school referendum funds with local charter schools
"House Education Committee chair Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis) is proposing a bill that would require any districts that pass funding referenda to share those dollars with local charter schools.
Behning says he wants to make charter school funding more equitable, and that charters receive about $3,000 less from the state per student than traditional public schools.
But executive director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents J.T. Coopman says the bill is just another way to strap districts for cash even further, as the state tries to figure out how to boost teacher pay."
https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/lawmakers-weigh-bill-to-split-school-referendum-funds-with-local-charter-schools.php
Behning says he wants to make charter school funding more equitable, and that charters receive about $3,000 less from the state per student than traditional public schools.
But executive director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents J.T. Coopman says the bill is just another way to strap districts for cash even further, as the state tries to figure out how to boost teacher pay."
https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/lawmakers-weigh-bill-to-split-school-referendum-funds-with-local-charter-schools.php
Thursday, January 31, 2019
More on Indiana's teacher shortage
From a shared Facebook post by a dear, respected friend:
"Thanks go to State Representative Ed Delaney (Indpls.) for his efforts to address Indiana's teacher shortage. He explains how we got here very well.
One more point...when local property taxes were capped, the State of Indiana was supposed to replace lost LOCAL revenues with STATE funds for public schools. Instead, public schools were cut, then, further drained to finance charter and private schools. Curricula, class-sizes, teaching positions and pay have all suffered ever since."
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2142784025804824&id=351225391627372
"Thanks go to State Representative Ed Delaney (Indpls.) for his efforts to address Indiana's teacher shortage. He explains how we got here very well.
One more point...when local property taxes were capped, the State of Indiana was supposed to replace lost LOCAL revenues with STATE funds for public schools. Instead, public schools were cut, then, further drained to finance charter and private schools. Curricula, class-sizes, teaching positions and pay have all suffered ever since."
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2142784025804824&id=351225391627372
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Here's how Gov. Holcomb's plan to boost teacher pay could widen pay gap in Indiana
"Based on the analysis of 2018 wages, Indianapolis Public Schools could save more than $2 million a year. Lawrence, Perry and Wayne townships would save more than $1 million. Hamilton Southeastern Schools would save nearly $1.5 million.F
For tiny Medora Community Schools in rural Jackson County, the loss of just two students would erase the $12,000 that district is projected to save. An enrollment drop of two students — or even 10 students — spread across all 13 grade levels isn't enough to cut staff. So fixed costs will stay the same, but state money will drop, explained Roger Bane, superintendent at Medora."
The money following the student like it is right now is hurting all the small schools," he said."
For tiny Medora Community Schools in rural Jackson County, the loss of just two students would erase the $12,000 that district is projected to save. An enrollment drop of two students — or even 10 students — spread across all 13 grade levels isn't enough to cut staff. So fixed costs will stay the same, but state money will drop, explained Roger Bane, superintendent at Medora."
The money following the student like it is right now is hurting all the small schools," he said."
Hoosiers close to losing chance to vote for state schools superintendent
Hoosier voters are on the precipice of losing the right to directly choose who they want to administer education policy in Indiana.
https://tinyurl.com/y7rb7y84
https://tinyurl.com/y7rb7y84