Supporters of expanding school choice options 'rock' Indiana Statehouse

The new Republican governor praised the 2011 package of education reforms that grew Indiana’s number of charter schools and launched a private-school voucher program that includes more than 9,000 students in its second year.

But, he said, the state should do more. Pence said 12 percent of Indiana students fail to graduate from high school, and more than 200,000 attend schools that receive “D” or “F” rankings through the state’s method of grading schools’ performance.

“We still have work to do,” Pence said. “We are going to continue to demand more and to improve our schools until great schools are the norm in every community of our state.”

He spoke at the “Ed Reform Rocks!” rally, which was attended by thousands of students, teachers, parents and education reform advocates. They packed the Statehouse’s second floor and leaned over from railings on the two floors above it to listen in.

“I truly believe if we put kids first — if we give parents more choices and teachers more freedom to teach — education in Indiana will continue to rock and it will continue to open doors of hope and opportunity for this generation and the next,” Pence said.

This was the third year for a rally that was sponsored by pro-school choice organizations and the Indiana chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a conservative organization funded by the Koch brothers.

The rally also featured short speeches by House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, and Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, as well as former six-year Indiana Pacers player Jalen Rose.

“This is all about empowering parents, empowering students, having the opportunity to go to a school that focuses on what they and their families want to focus on,” Bosma said.

Not in attendance Monday was Glenda Ritz, the Democratic state superintendent of public instruction who ousted Republican reformer Tony Bennett in November’s election. She was not invited to speak at the rally, her office said.

Lawmakers are currently advancing a bill that would expand Indiana’s voucher program.

The proposal was watered down in the House Ways and Means Committee, but it would still increase from $4,500 per year to $5,500 per year the amount that students in grades 1-8 who qualify for vouchers would receive from the state.

It also allows military veterans, foster parents and parents of children who have special needs to qualify for the program more easily than the regular income limit of about $64,000 per year for a family of four.

Opponents said Indiana should hit the brakes on education changes for a while.

“Eventually, it’s going to be that anybody can have a voucher. What are we doing to the basic opportunity for everybody to have a good education if we start spreading ourselves too thin?” asked Rep. Gail Riecken, D-Evansville.

Rep. Kreg Battles, D-Vincennes, said that as a result of the 2011 education reforms, Indiana is currently funding four school systems — public schools, charter schools, virtual charters and private schools. “At some point, I think you need to take a timeout just to see where we’re at,” he said.