Your Voice is Needed

Please accept this plea to be actively engaged in the support of our schools as Indiana state legislators tend to their responsibilities during this session. Many bills are under debate that could have a lasting impact on our schools--including both parent choice related bills and bills for any school in Indiana.INPEA (Indiana Non-Public Education Association) is our trusted advocate in the statehouse.Jon Mielke (our Indiana District-LCMS executive counselor for education), Jon Dize (advancement coordinator for TLSP), and Mark Muehl (executive director for TLSP) serve as board members on INPEA.As legislation effecting our schools is introduced, INPEA will inform us of our need for input and will issue a plea for action.Our legislators have many bills on their list including curriculum considerations, accreditation issues, administrative issues, and parent choice issues. YOUR VOICE MATTERS. Be it a call, email or letter, you make a difference.Here’s the latest request for help from INPEA re: House Bills (HB) Senate Bills (SB)- CurriculumSB 337 - Ethnics Studies Course (Taylor)SB 337 would require the study of ethnic and racial groups to be included as part of each school corporation's high school United States history course.INPEA Stance: INPEA understands the desire to have this included in all US history courses, but like other curriculum bills proposed this session, we believe it over regulates and burdens our non-public schools. It is also INPEA's position that the desired content in the bill is already being taught and is included in the Indiana Academic Standards.Current Status: Referred to Senate Education Committee, will be up for amendments and vote on 2/8/17. Other bills concerning curriculum have passed the Senate. AdministrationHB 1430 - Youth Suicide Prevention (Olthoff)HB 1430 would require accredited non-public schools to have certain school employees attend or participate in at least two hours of evidence based in-service youth suicide awareness and prevention training.INPEA Stance: INPEA is supportive of the intent of the legislation. We have some concerns about additional professional development requirement for teachers. INPEA hopes to work with the authors of the bill to explore alternative approaches. Current Status: Was heard by House Education Committee on 2/1/17. Will be up for House Education Committee amendments and vote soon. AdministrationHB 1430 - Youth Suicide Prevention (Olthoff)HB 1430 would require accredited non-public schools to have certain school employees attend or participate in at least two hours of evidence based in-service youth suicide awareness and prevention training.INPEA Stance: INPEA is supportive of the intent of the legislation. We have some concerns about additional professional development requirement for teachers. INPEA hopes to work with the authors of the bill to explore alternative approaches. Current Status: Was heard by House Education Committee on 2/1/17. Will be up for House Education Committee amendments and vote soon.Choice HB 1004 - Pre-Kindergarten with Choice (Behning)HB 1004 would expand early education matching grants, and expand the early education pilot program to 10 counties, up from the original 5. Allows for a grant or pilot recipient to also receive a Choice Scholarship for kindergarten the following year if the family meets the Choice Scholarship guidelines.INPEA Stance: INPEA fully supports the expansion of the early education matching grants and the prekindergarten pilot program. Additionally INPEA supports the expanded Choice pathway for pilot and grant recipients to also be eligible for Choice Scholarships.Current Status: Passed House Education Committee 9-4, on to House Floor for vote. Please take action above! Pre-KindergartenSB 276 - Early Education Grant Pilot Program (Holdman)SB 276 would expand the prekindergarten pilot program to include five additional counties. Expands the requirement that the FSSA carry out a longitudinal study of students who participate in the pilot program to include the students in the five additional counties. Establishes the prekindergarten pilot program fund. Makes an appropriation to the prekindergarten pilot program fund in an amount of $20 million for each fiscal year.INPEA Stance: INPEA fully supports the expansion of the early education matching grants and the prekindergarten pilot program.Current Status: Up for Senate Education Committee amendments and vote on 2/8/17 Go to INPEA’s Legislative Action Center for a link in contacting your legislators-

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