I recently hosted town hall meetings in Johnson County. We had great discussions about our state budget and education among other topics. This session we will work to increase education funding while fixing the funding formula, reducing overhead, focusing dollars on the classroom and providing hard-working teachers with a tax credit.
The General Assembly will consider many bills related to education – the most important being House Bill (HB) 1001, the budget. Indiana operates on a biennial budget, and every other year the legislative session lasts longer to allow us time to thoughtfully consider each part of the budget we will pass. We will focus on crafting an honestly balanced budget with no tax increases.
Education is a top funding priority. In fact, nearly two-thirds of Indiana’s budget is devoted to K-12 and higher education funding. In 2011, we passed legislation to allow low-income families the ability to choose the best educational options for their children regardless of their zip code. I am proud that we have the nation’s fastest growing school voucher program, but I think now is the time to focus back on public education and continue providing Hoosier children with a competitive, well-rounded education.
Another bill related to education is HB 1108, a bill I authored to improve education for dyslexic students. This legislation defines dyslexia more clearly and requires teachers to be more informed of the disability before receiving their teaching license. I am confident that this bill will help teachers identify dyslexia and tailor their teaching style to accommodate students with the disorder.
HB 1005 is another education bill worth noting. This bill supplies teachers with a $200 tax credit for classroom supplies. It has come to our attention that many teachers in Indiana are spending their own hard-earned money to provide their students with classroom supplies. This tax credit will alleviate some of the financial stress this places on teachers and make it easier for them to provide a quality education for their students.
Another piece of legislation being discussed is HB 1009. This bill allows schools to establish Freedom to Teach zones, in which they will be able to implement innovative education methods. In these zones, schools are exempt from certain burdensome regulations to give educators increased flexibility to improve students’ academic performance. These schools will also be eligible for a grant to help them accomplish their goals.
I am honored to be your representative in Indianapolis, and I welcome your thoughts and opinions. I encourage you to stay involved with the legislative process this session. You can track legislation and find constituent resources on our website, www.indianahouserepublicans.com, and you can contact me at 317-232-9648, or h58@iga.in.gov.
