,
22 tweets,
4 min read
Read on Twitter
The Senate education committee will be starting any minute. For new bills being heard today, we will be particularly watching HB 1629 and HB 1004. Here's the full agenda: iga.in.gov/documents/33f1…
Chairman Raatz tells members that he won't be hearing HB 1002 and HB 1209 today. Amendments for these bills are still likely being worked on.
Committee is now considering HB 1003. Members amended the bill by consent to add some more reporting info to be collected. Bill would set goals for schools to spend at least 85% of their education funding on classroom expenses, including teacher salaries. Bill passes 8-2.
Senate education committee is now hearing HB 1004. The bill makes various changes to the Indiana safe schools grant program, including permitting safe schools grants to be used to provide school-based mental health services or social emotional wellness services to students.
ISTA is testifying in support of HB 1004. Support approach of school-based mental health and social emotional wellness services. This has the best potential of getting at the root causes of such tragedies.
ISTA would like to have educator and student safety addressed in active shooter drills at schools. ISTA heard from members who were injured during a recent training.
During active shooter drill, four teachers at a time were taken into a room, told to crouch down and were shot execution style with some sort of projectiles - resulting in injuries to the extent that welts appeared, and blood was drawn.
The teachers were terrified, but were told not to tell anyone what happened. Teachers waiting outside that heard the screaming were brought into the room four at a time and the shooting process was repeated.
No one in education takes these drills lightly. The risk of harming someone far outweighs whatever added realism one is trying to convey here. ISTA requests an amendment in bill so that more reasonable limits are placed on these drills.
Testimony continues on HB 1004. There is one bill left on the agenda and a committee rule that meetings end at 5 p.m. Sen. Crane is chairing today's meeting.
Rep. McNamara is closing on HB 1004. Says this bill is about creating a safe environment, prevention and getting kids the mental health resources help they need.
ISTA is working on an amendment to this bill that addresses the active shooter training issue. ISTA supports HB 1004 as a positive step in addressing root causes of these school-based tragedies. ISTA thanks @RepWendyMac for bringing it forward.
Chairman Crane says that he will make an exception to 5 p.m. rule and hear last bill - HB 1629.
HB 1629 is a various education matters bill. Several unrelated elements in the bill. Highlights include: Schools would not be able to charge a fee for the first five
hours required to search for a record that is in an electronic format, but could if more than five hours.
hours required to search for a record that is in an electronic format, but could if more than five hours.
HB 1629 would also require the state board, when approving any Core 40 curriculum models, adopt a graduation requirement that students must file the FAFSA as condition of graduation.
FAFSA requirement may be waived only if student signs a waiver as an adult, the parent signs a waiver or some extenuating circumstances.
ISTA testifies on HB 1629. Appreciates Rep. Behning working with ISTA on sections of the bill. Have concerns that redefining elementary schools might inadvertently open the voucher program to schools offering only pre-K and kindergarten.
ISTA also has concerns that requiring a FAFSA may have unintended consequence of penalizing students by preventing them from graduating, merely due to the failure to complete a form - may disproportionately impact lower income students.
ISTA also requests addition to provision that would require a principal to ensure suspended students receive school work and teacher contact information. Want to make sure contact information be limited to school contact info and that contact be limited to normal working hours.
Testimony has finished on HB 1629, concluding the committee meeting. Committee will meet again next Wed at 1:30 p.m.
