At a recent town hall meeting that I held with Johnson County educators, there was much discussion about teacher evaluations, specifically in regards to House Bill (HB) 1639. I appreciated the opinions these education leaders shared with me, and I am pleased to let you know that the bill was amended in the Education Committee. We removed the language allowing parent and student evaluations of teachers to be included in a teacher’s performance assessment. A summer study committee will consider this issue further. The bill passed out of the House and will now go to the Senate for further consideration.
HB 1194 is another bill concerning education, which also recently passed the House. This bill, which I coauthored, seeks to address the issue of high school diplomas for special education students. Too often special education students are advised to obtain a certificate of completion, when they could receive a general education diploma. Many of these students have very useful skills that translate to the workforce, but are not considered for employment, because they do not have a high school diploma. This legislation ensures that all types of available diplomas are discussed with the student and his or her parent. In addition, the bill calls for a review of alternative course requirements for earning a general diploma.
I remain committed to supporting high-quality education for all Hoosier students. I appreciate your feedback on these and other issues, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
