Take Action Now

• Contact your legislators and tell them to VOTE NO on Senate Bill 88

• Testify if you can. Share your story.

Tell Five Friends, Make Two Calls (or More!)

Tell Your Legislators to Vote NO on Senate Bill 88

When to call: Before Wednesday, January 21 at noon  

Why: Senate Bill 88 

Who: Senate Education & Career Development Committee Members (see list below)

Phone: Senate: 800-382-9467

Message: 

Hello, I’d like to leave a message for ___________________

My name is __________, and I am a ____________ (parent, grandparent, teacher, nurse, mom, dad, etc.). 

Thank you for your work as a state legislator. What you do is not easy. 

I am calling to urge you to vote NO to Senate Bill  88.  SB 88 removes local control, politicizes civics, and increases litigation risk. Our public schools should unite communities and prepare students for the future—not impose ideology or restrict learning. Please vote NO. Do not advance this bill.

Senate Education & Career Development Committee

Sen. Jeff Raatz

Sen. Greg Goode

Sen. Brian Buchanan

Sen. Gary Byrne

Sen. Spencer Deery

Sen. Stacey Donato

Sen. Tyler Johnson

Sen. Linda Rogers

Sen. Daryl Schmitt

Sen. J.D. Ford

Sen. Andrea Hunley

Sen. Fady Qaddoura

Sen. Shelli Yoder

Testify 

Wednesday, 1:30pm – Testimony is being heard on SB 88 in the Senate Chamber by the Senate Education & Career Development Committee. 

You can learn more about testifying at the Statehouse on the ICPE advocacy page.  

More Details

SB 88 is not a homegrown solution—it mirrors national, copy-and-paste education bills that have led to lawsuits and confusion elsewhere. Indiana students and schools deserve policies shaped by local needs, not outsiders.

Key Problems with SB 88

Imposes a specific moral framework in public education

• Requires schools to teach that students should wait until marriage to have children
• Marginalizes students from diverse family structures
• Raises constitutional and legal concerns

Uses vague language that chills honest, standards-aligned teaching

• Limits how educators can discuss race, gender, class, and systemic inequality
• Uses vague language that chills instruction and exposes districts to liability

Politicizes civics rather than promoting critical thinking

• Specifies documents and ideological framing in middle school civics
• Reduces local flexibility and risks politicizing required coursework

Weakens teacher licensure standards

• Allows some candidates to bypass licensing exams based on prior test scores
• Does not address the real causes of Indiana’s teacher shortage

Impact on Indiana Communities

• Less local control over public schools
• Increased legal and financial risk for districts
• Erosion of trust in educators

   

* As always, please remember the following guidelines when reaching out to legislators:

• Remember to be polite and kind in your language and tone.
• Remind them public education is not a partisan issue.
• Encourage legislators to support legislation that strengthens public schools.
• Personal stories and anecdotes are particularly effective, whether it’s your own personal story or a close friend’s.
• Be disciplined in your messaging: the best way to build support for your position is to keep communication positive, bipartisan, inclusive, and single-issue.
• Avoid getting sidetracked with other issues you care about.
• If you are a constituent, mention that.