One of Indiana's more controversial educational reforms adopted last year will be challenged by the state's incoming superintendent of public instruction, Glenda Ritz. Indeed, in a recent Associated Press report, she said she would do away with the new requirement that third-graders either pass a reading test, or be held back a year. The reform, championed by state superintendent Tony Bennett and Gov. Mitch Danielswas hailed as a way to end social promotions in Indiana public schools.
But if Ritz has her way, the reading competency policy will be off.
Ritz, an elementary school media specialist, defeated Bennett in the Nov. 6 election, amassing strong support from Indiana public school teachers upset with Bennett's reforms. Democrat Ritz has been critical of many of those reforms, but because Republicans retained the governor's office and control of both legislative houses, there is little she can do about the reforms.
In the AP news story, published Monday in the Evansville Courier & Press, Ritz acknowledged she doesn't have the votes to make big policy changes, such as repealing Indiana's voucher program, which allows Indiana parents to send their children to private or religious schools at state expense.
However, she said does plan to do away with the pass or fail test for third-grade reading competency implemented by Bennett. We presume that is because the pass-fail test was approved by the State Board of Education, instead of being enacted into law by the legislature. As state superintendent, she will chair the board of education. The question will be, since the education board approved the reform, will she be able to overrule the board members, who are appointed by the governor — a Republican governor.
Recall that the legislature entertained a bill to end social promotions of third-graders, but it failed. Instead, the legislature directed the state education department to come up with a plan to help children who cannot read by the third grade.
Instead, the board of education early this year voted in favor of the pass/fail plan. It is to take effect for children finishing third grade this coming spring.
While we have supported the end of social promotions, we have previously pointed out that the plan is flawed in that the state provided no additional funding for remediation of children who fail. In fact, those who fail are to be given another opportunity to pass before being held back from the fourth grade.
The Legislative Services Agency has estimated it would cost a total of $49 million for schools to provide remediation for those who fail.
As much as anything, this move may tell Indiana much about how Ritz will stack up in an early showdown with Gov.-elect Mike Pence, the Republican legislature and the state Board of Education.