Indiana lawmakers began to consider this week an over 130-page long bill that seeks to deregulate aspects of the K-12 education system. The measure is part of a larger effort by Indiana Republican leaders to cut at least 60,000 words from the state's education code over the next three years.
House Bill 1002 includes deleting several provisions of state statutes relating to training requirements for educators and language regarding what local school boards are allowed to do.
The author of the legislation, state Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, said at the House Education Committee Wednesday that eliminating the training requirement portions would give local districts more flexibility in determining which training best suited them.
The measure also proposes repealing multiple unfunded grant programs, COVID-19 pandemic-related provisions and outdated statutes.
Many of the individuals testifying spoke in favor of the bill. However, the proposed repealing of requirements for the state's secretary of education position drew pushback from some legislators and individuals at the House Education Committee.
Currently, state law says candidates for the position must have lived in Indiana for two years. They must have worked and be licensed as a teacher, principal or superintendent for five years. They also are required to have earned an advanced degree from an accredited college or university.
The leader of the Indiana Department of Education has been appointed by the governor since 2020. Prior to that, Hoosier voters elected the state schools chief.
Behning said he believed the governor should have the flexibility to appoint someone who they thought was the most qualified to serve, similarly to how local school districts had the flexibility to have a superintendent who may not have a background in education.
State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary said it was alarming the bill was proposing to strip the requirements for the position.
"It bothers me that everybody thinks that anybody can lead education," he said.
Joel Hand, who was representing the American Federation of Teachers Indiana and the Indiana Coalition for Public Education, noted other governor appointees, such as Supreme Court justices and the superintendent of Indiana State Police, have requirements in state law to show their qualifications.
"Having someone lead the state Department of Education without a background in K-12 education is tantamount to the governor appointing a superintendent of State Police who has no prior law enforcement background,” Hand said.
Hand and other educational leaders and lobbyists Wednesday also drew concerns over the parts of the bill that removed the ability for teachers to be paid on a 12-month schedule instead of nine months. Behning indicated that portion would be restored in the revised version of the legislation.
Some speakers also flagged a portion of the bill that would eliminate the requirement for new charter school organizers and their governing board members to submit statements of economic interests, as well as a part that would reduce the required time for districts to give notice of their intent to no longer providing transportation services from three years to one.
The education deregulation bill is part of the legislative priorities for House Republicans this session, which also includes legislation to start the process of Indiana absorbing 33 Illinois counties that have voted to leave their home state.
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