Capitol Insider
February 7, 2025
Inspiration of the week: “Angelic Troublemakers” and “Good Trouble”
When I heard a quote by Bayard Rustin this weekend, I immediately had to read more about him – an almost unknown civil rights leader – at least in my history books. Even more than the quote cited*, I thought about you, public school teachers, when I read another of his quotes:
We need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers.
Add that to John Lewis’ famous quote:
Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and
help redeem the soul of America.
Powerful words to us today. Whether you consciously think about it or not, teachers embody the call of these two leaders to not avoid the trouble, the conflict, but to embrace it.
*Let us be enraged by injustice, but let us not be destroyed by it. (Bayard Rustin)
Call to Action
In case you’re in a pinch for time, let me tell you that this week it is important that you take a few minutes to contacts members of the Senate Education Committee (scroll down on the page to see committee. Remember their email address starts with s, followed by district number and @iga.in.gov. For example, Sen. Raatz is s27@iga.in.gov. and so on) as well as your senator. Two horrendous bills were heard in committee this week – SB 257 and SB 523. As much as the bills being bad bills was the discussion and hateful remarks made by so many. Sen. Byrne declared he voted yes because he couldn’t vote against God.
The other committee you need to contact is Senate Elections. Again, scroll down on the page to find the members and their districts. The committee heard SB 287 that would make school board elections partisan. 25 testified in opposition. 1 testified in favor. They’re voting next week.
House Ed Bills
1634 Math Education - Requires each school corporation and charter middle school to automatically enroll a student who meets certain conditions in a middle school advanced math course. Allows a parent of a student to opt out of automatic enrollment. Allows a parent of a student who does not meet the conditions for automatic enrollment to opt the student into a middle school advanced math course amended to say students must have a C or above. Establishes requirements regarding: (1) mathematics screening, evaluation, and intervention; and (2) teacher preparation program math curriculum and content. Passed committee 11-0
1064 Extracurricular School Activities - Removes language prohibiting certain students from enrolling into a school corporation primarily for athletic reasons. Requires a school corporation to offer a cash payment option at certain extracurricular activities or events, including athletic events. Passed committee party line 6—3.
1203 Reservist tuition supplement program - Establishes the reservist tuition supplement program fund (fund). Requires the commission for higher education to administer the fund and use money in the fund to award scholarships to eligible applicants. Passed 11-0
1376 Opioid overdose reversal medication in schools - Sets forth certain requirements concerning FDA approved opioid overdose reversal medication. No vote was taken this week.
1500 Teacher appreciation grants - Amends requirements regarding teacher appreciation grants. Bill has complex stipend determination for high needs areas. Reduces, actually eliminated, opportunities for most teachers to receive additional stipend. Bill was held for amend and vote next week.
1285 Special education - Establishes the special education classroom grant program to assist school corporations in complying with buying electronic recording equipment for designated special ed classrooms, seclusion areas, etc. Requires storage for at least 90 days. Also provides that parents can record IEP conferences. Creates a process by which a parent of a special education student may request to review certain recorded video footage. Requires school corporations to employ at least one behavioral interventionist not later than January 1, 2026. Provides that parents can recover all student belongings in the case of death of a student. Bill held until next week.
1660 Excused Absence from Schools - Provides that the governing body of a school corporation or the chief administrative officer of a nonpublic school system shall authorize the absence and excuse of a school student if the student participates in certain events offered by the National FFA Organization, the Indiana FFA Association, or a 4-H club. Provides that a student's excused absences may not exceed six days in a school year. Provides that the student must be in good academic standing. 10-0.
Senate Ed Bills
First Amend and Vote
249 Teacher Compensation – Provides that administrators can put aside “stipend” funds that are given as superintendents choose outside of collective bargaining and before raises are bargained. Democrat Senators Ford and Hunley offered amendments that would improve the bill; both failed down party lines. The bill passed – are you ready – down party line 9-4.
365 Education matters - Requires the DOE and the commission for higher education, to collect, maintain, and aggregate certain data regarding career and technical education programs. Requires the department, in collaboration with the governor's workforce cabinet, the commission, and the department of workforce development, to conduct a return on investment analysis on adult education programs, and report the department's findings to the legislative council. Passed committee 10-3.
403 Charter school requirements - Charter school requirements. Provides that: (1) access to financial data for local schools’ requirements apply to charter schools; and (2) at least one member of the governing board of a charter school must be appointed by the fiscal body of the county in which the charter school is located. Bill passed 13-0
442 Instruction concerning human sexuality - If a school provides any instruction to students concerning human sexuality, the school's governing authority must first approve and publish certain information concerning the instruction in a conspicuous place on the website of the school and requires the school to provide a direct link to that information in the school's written request for consent for instruction concerning human sexuality. Prohibits a school from using learning materials that concern human sexuality unless approved by the school's governing authority. Requires the governing body of a school to establish and maintain a grievance procedure for a violation of certain provisions. The bill was amended to exclude private schools from this bill. Pass committee 9-4.
448 Higher Education and Workforce Development Matters - Requires the Indiana management performance hub to annually report certain credential information on its website. Requires the secretary of education to establish a plan to develop a market driven stackable credentials and qualifications framework and submit the plan to the general assembly. Provides that the commission for higher education (commission) shall (instead of may) approve or disapprove certain branches, campuses, centers, new colleges, new schools, degrees, or programs. Provides that before the commission approves or disapproves a degree or program, a state educational institution shall provide, and the commission shall consider, certain information regarding the degree or program. Bill passed committee 13-0 and was re-committed to Appropriations.
Bills Heard This Week; Amend and Vote Next Week
Friends, discussion on senate bills 257 and 523 was painful. I would urge you to watch the archived video. Begin discussion on 257 at 39 minutes and conclude at 1 hr. 38 minutes. Discussion on 523 starts immediately after at 1 hr. 38 minutes and runs through the rest of the committee time. Find the recording here.
**257 Civics Education - Requires certain instruction or discussion to: (1) incorporate the universal principles of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution of the United States; and (2) foster a national identity, heritage, and culture established by an aspiration to certain shared principles (shared principles). Prohibits certain instruction or discussion from fostering a national identity, heritage, or culture that is contrary to shared principles. Creates a process for a parent or community member to request that a governing body investigate instruction or discussion that the person believes is not aligned to shared principles. ARE YOU READY? Remember HB 1134 in 2022 about CRT? Because so many came out, it was defeated. This bill is moving fast and is vicious.
348 Waiving Requirements for Accredited Schools – Sen. Buchanan withdrew this bill.
**523 School Chaplains - Allows a principal or superintendent of a public school, including a charter school, to employ, or approve as a volunteer, a school chaplain if certain requirements are met. Allows a school chaplain to provide: (1) secular advice, guidance, and support services; and (2) nonsecular advice, guidance, and support services if certain conditions are met. Provides that, with exceptions, communications made by a student to a school chaplain are privileged and confidential.
In Other Committees; bills moving on the floor (a.k.a. during session)
In Senate Elections, there were several bills of importance. School Board Elections, 287, once again had overwhelming testimony against requiring school board candidates to declare a party. Did I say overwhelming? Twenty-five opposed to one supporting IS overwhelming opposition. The bill didn’t get a vote in committee this week with the promise of amend and vote next week. Please email or call the members of the Senate Election committee to tell them to oppose this bill.
Deportation Threats
The Leadership Development Committee of AFT Indiana along with our attorney met to prepare members should your school be faced with deportation threats. Local leaders will have received a letter full of resources and recommendations for teachers. One thing you need to know for you and for everyone – you have rights. One of those important rights is you have the right to remain silent. For those who’d like even more information, please visit the AFT website>Our Community>Immigration and Share My Lesson
When you have time for more …
Check out our website for other information and happenings involving the legislature. You will find us at https://in.aft.org. Remember, your staff representative can help you maneuver the legislature including helping you make contact with YOUR legislators. YOU truly ARE the best lobbyist with your legislators for your best interests.
Helpful Links
General Assembly page that will take you to almost anything you could want regarding the legislature and legislators.
For a list of ALL legislators, start on home page, see upper right (Search, Code, Bills, Legislators) – click on Legislators. You have the option of ALL then download a pdf.
All committees (then choose the one you want).
If you click on “legislation,” you can get to bills by number, or choose by legislator, or by subject. Resolutions are there, too.
When the House and Senate are in session.
Archived videos of committee hearings.
Save the Date Calendar
Just 1 week and 3 days until … February 17 – Indiana Coalition of Public Education (ICPE) hosts annual rally at the Statehouse.
AFT Indiana is a member of ICPE and participates in this event. Members are invited to attend.
March 8 – Presidents’ Council followed by the AFT Indiana Executive Board Meeting
Holiday Inn City Centre, Lafayette, begins at 10 AM Eastern. Lunch is provided. RSVP to sjsloan@aftindiana.org not later than February 21.
May 2-3 – AFT Indiana Annual Convention, Anderson
Friday night social at Championship Lanes
Saturday at Tanglewood
Rooms available at Best Western Plus, Anderson
The Convention Call! This was put into USPS mail on Tuesday (Jan. 28).
It goes to all presidents with details and deadlines. Please help keep us on track.
Courtesy copies were mailed to AFT Indiana Executive Board members who are not local presidents, AFT Indiana staff, and invited speakers.
Dues must be paid through February 2025 for delegates to be seated and/or for candidates to be elected.
Delegate sheets due to AFT Indiana by April 9. We’ve even enclosed an envelope for your convenience. We need delegate names and a check for lunch for each delegate ($16 each)
AFT Indiana is paying for breakfast for all.
Locals are responsible for making hotel reservations. Special room rates are available only until April 15. Get your room early as this is also graduation weekend for Anderson University.