Yesterday, I read a report on a four-year study conducted by the Center for Research on Education Outcomes at Stanford University concerning charter schools. It explained how Indiana charter schools are performing exceptionally well and are tied for second place as the best charter schools in the United States. You can find the complete study on my website at http://www.des07.com/t/15895448/695968767/54287569/0/. As you know, Senate Bill 1, which deals with teacher evaluations and licensing, and Senate Bill 575, which deals with teacher collective bargaining are works in progress. These bills are subject to change and it is my hope that we will be able to make these changes. However, due to the democrat's failure to conduct business at the Statehouse, the House has been at a standstill for the past three weeks. Please note that these bills are not eligible for changes or consideration until they are filed. A quorum must be established in order for this to occur. The House Republican caucus has met numerous times not only to discuss the remaining bills on the House calendar, but possible changes to SB 1 and SB 575. These proposed changes are the result of numerous factors, including input we have received from teachers. For example, House Republicans have proposed deleting SB 1 language that permits only 50% of charter school teachers hold a teaching license. All current charter school teachers are required to be licensed and will continue to be under this proposed House Republican legislation. To be clear, I will not support this legislation without the inclusion of this amendment. In addition, changes will be made with regards to performance evaluation measures. SB 1 currently establishes an annual staff performance evaluation that categorizes teachers as highly effective, effective, improvement necessary or ineffective. House Republican proposals will direct the State Board to collaborate with the Department of Education to develop a model plan, a performance evaluation tool and release it to school corporations. However, school corporations can choose to utilize their own plan and evaluation tool. The plan shall include an objective measure of student achievement and growth using statewide assessment results whenever possible. In regards to SB 575, I have always supported teacher's right to bargain for their salaries and benefits. However, reform is vital and I have posted a 12-page document on my website that lists some of the items negotiated in teacher's contracts in Indiana schools. I believe some of the items listed are legitimate. Some, in my opinion, have no business being included in negotiated contracts. One example to why reform is needed to many collective bargaining agreements is that a teacher with tied seniority could be dismissed based on birth date, blind draw, roll of a die and the sum of the last four digits of the social security number (the higher sum of the two is granted the greater seniority). This is just one example to why reform is essential. I strongly encourage you to visit my website at http://www.des07.com/t/15895448/695968767/54287569/0/ to view the documents I was referring to above. Again, thank you for your input and I will be sure to share this information with other legislators. Please feel free to contact me in the future. |
