Vic’s Statehouse Notes #390 – Jennifer McCormick is the only candidate that will protect our public schools
Dear Friends,
There are three candidates for Governor in Indiana’s election on November 5th.
Only one supports public education: Jennifer McCormick.
The Indiana Coalition for Public Education board of directors has endorsed Jennifer McCormick for Governor. Please join them and then tell your family and friends in this grassroots movement to restore public education as a priority!
Republican Mike Braun’s first point on education is to “guarantee universal school choice.” He has advertised his plan widely without explaining what “universal” means. It means another boost to private education in Indiana, not public education. It would give private school vouchers to parents who make even more than the current cut off of $231,000 for a family of four. He would have all taxpayers pay the private school tuition for the very wealthy, removing all income requirements to get a voucher. More vouchers for private schools would further cut money available to our public schools.
Libertarian Donald Rainwater, in his education plan, supports not only “universal school choice” but also a new idea to help private schools: giving vouchers to “nonaccredited schools.” This is a big and unprecedented step. Accreditation is a process in Indiana to show parents and communities that schools are meeting state standards. Currently, all public schools must be accredited and all private schools who want vouchers must be accredited by state or private accreditation agencies. This means Donald Rainwater is ready to throw out state accreditation standards and give taxpayer money to schools that do not meet state standards or follow state rules.
These two candidates clearly do not support public education. They are advocating policies that would let public schools lose support and slowly die.
Jennifer McCormick is the only candidate with the background and knowledge to protect and support our public schools which have been educating Hoosiers for over 170 years. When 90% of Indiana’s students attend public schools, they need a Governor who is an advocate for public schools.
If you want to see public schools in Indiana survive the attacks against them and be given a priority once again in the Governor’s office, support Jennifer McCormick!
Then tell your friends and family to do the same.
Thank you for your active support of public education in Indiana!
Best wishes,
Vic Smith vic790@aol.com
About Vic’s Statehouse Notes and ICPE…
Vic’s Statehouse Notes and ICPE received one of three Excellence in Media Awards presented by Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an organization of over 85,000 women educators in seventeen countries. The award was presented on July 30, 2014 during the Delta Kappa Gamma International Convention held in Indianapolis. Thank you Delta Kappa Gamma!
ICPE has worked since 2011 to promote public education in the Statehouse and oppose the privatization of schools. We rely on memberships to help support ICPE lobbying efforts and outreach across the state. Our lobbyist Joel Hand represented ICPE extremely well in the 2024 short session. We need all ICPE members to renew their membership if they have not done so. We also welcome new members and general donations. We need your help and the help of your colleagues who support public education! Please pass the word!
Visit ICPE’s website at www.indianacoalitionforpubliced.org/join for membership and renewal information and for full information on ICPE efforts on behalf of public education. Thanks!
Some readers have asked about my background in Indiana public schools. Thanks for asking! Here is a brief bio:
I am a lifelong Hoosier and began teaching in 1969. I served as a social studies teacher, curriculum developer, state research and evaluation consultant, state social studies consultant, district social studies supervisor, assistant principal, principal, educational association staff member, and adjunct university professor. I worked for Garrett-Keyser-Butler Schools, the Indiana University Social Studies Development Center, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indianapolis Public Schools, IUPUI, and the Indiana Urban Schools Association, from which I retired as Associate Director in 2009. I hold three degrees: B.A. in Ed., Ball State University, 1969; M.S. in Ed., Indiana University, 1972; and Ed.D., Indiana University, 1977, along with a Teacher’s Life License and a Superintendent’s License, 1998. In 2013 I was honored to receive a Distinguished Alumni Award from the IU School of Education, and in 2014 I was honored to be named to the Teacher Education Hall of Fame by the Association for Teacher Education – Indiana. In April of 2018, I was honored to receive the 2018 Friend of Education Award from the Indiana State Teachers Association.