Blog & Statehouse Notes
This space serves as vital resource for those who are dedicated to preserving and enhancing public education in Indiana. Through insightful articles, updates, and analysis, ICPE provides timely information on legislative actions, policy changes, and advocacy efforts impacting Indiana’s public education system. We strive to empower stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to support and defend public education.
“Choices” to non-public schools that cannot or will not adequately serve students
Many thanks to Carla Schmid, a special needs parent who testified in opposition to HB 1005 in the House Education Committee hearing. She joined us on ICPE’s special Presidents Day Zoom webinar. Please find her remarks below. "Hello, everyone! My name is Carla Schmid....
HB 1005 Passes House 61-38
Attached is the House Roll Call vote on HB 1005 which passed 61-38 on 3rd Reading on 2/16/21. Does your legislator support public education? Where is your legislator on this list? Votes matter. It’s an ongoing challenge to hold our elected officials accountable for...
ICPE President – “A budget reflects our priorities”
Here are the passionate remarks from ICPE President Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer that she shared at our Presidents Day Zoom "Rally" earlier this week:"Every year, I think. What’s it going to take? What will it take for Indiana to stop the defunding of our public schools and...
Leaky bucket: legislature diverts K-12 tuition support funding from public schools
Do you ever wonder how legislators can brag about “historic” increases in the education budget, yet public schools’ funding increases barely keep up with inflation? It’s because so much is diverted out of the K-12 Tuition Support Fund before public schools get what’s...
ICASE – “Significant risk of harming students with disabilities”
Many thanks to Jenny Smithson, Governmental Affairs Co-chair for ICASE (Indiana Council of Administrators for Special Education) for presenting during ICPE's special Presidents Day webinar. Please find her remarks below. The official ICASE position on ESAs and Voucher...
Indiana PTA – “Close the Door to Education Savings Accounts”
Many thanks to Carissa Dollar, Vice President of Advocacy with Indiana PTA, for presenting during ICPE's special Presidents Day webinar. Many participants have asked to have a copy of her written remarks, which are featured below."Good afternoon. My name is Carissa...
Vic’s Statehouse Notes #352 – President’s Day Public Education Zoom Webinar
Dear Friends, Weather Alert: Join in on the Public Education Zoom webinar tomorrow Feb. 15th at 3PM! A small President’s Day event had been planned in the Statehouse to meet Covid guidelines, but that has been changed to a virtual Zoom/phone event due to the winter...
Three former top Indiana education leaders sign letter opposing education scholarship accounts and voucher expansion
An Opposition Letter from Public School Supporters to Members of the Indiana General Assembly and Governor Holcomb In support of the 94% of Indiana students who attend public schools, we strongly oppose House Bill 1005, Senate Bill 412 and Senate Bill 413. Education...
Vic’s Statehouse Notes #351 – The death knell of accountability
Dear Friends, The House Education Committee last Wednesday passed House Bill 1005, taking Indiana in a radical and controversial direction. Let there be no confusion. This is new. Education Savings Accounts, now called Education Scholarship Accounts in House Bill...
Legislative hypocrisy and deception – again
Thanks to our board member Dr. Tony Lux for writing this op ed. It has appeared in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, the Northwest Indiana Times and other newspapers around the state. When this was written (and that was just over two weeks ago), HB 1093 was thought...
HB 1005 headed to House Ways & Means – take action
URGENT: House Bill 1005 which expands the Indiana Choice Scholarship (voucher) program and creates Education "Scholarship" Accounts (also known as Education Savings Accounts or ESAs) passed out of the House Education Committee last week and is now headed to the House...
Vic’s Statehouse Notes #350 – Shock and awe!
Dear Friends, Shock and awe! Public education in Indiana is truly under attack. In a late move that I did not hear about until this morning, the Senate Education Committee has also scheduled their version of the Education Savings Accounts bill to be heard on the same...
Not a member? Donate and join today!
Questions? Contact us at info@indianacoalitionforpubliced.org