Weekly Planner: Charter & Voucher Opponents To Rally At Statehouse

Facebook / Friedman Foundation

An organization that supports school choice posted this picture of former NBA player Jalen Rose at the "Ed Reform Rocks" rally last week on their Facebook page. A group that opposes charter schools and the state's voucher program is holding a rally of their own next week.

A week after a crowd of 1,000 or more turned out to the Indiana Statehouse at a rally supporting the state’s charter schools and voucher programs, a group that opposes charters and vouchers is scheduled to hold a Statehouse rally of its own.

That’s one of the stories for you ed-heads to put on your radars next week.

The Indiana Coalition for Public Education, a group that endorsed state superintendent Glenda Ritz in the 2012 election, will rally at the capitol on Tuesday, March 19.

“We will not have free T-shirts for all,” writes ICPE president Vic Smith, referencing last week’s rally of school choice supporters, “and homemade signs are the best we can do. We do however… know the history of public schools as the bedrock of our democracy.”

Coming Up Next Week

• Tuesday, March 19: An expert on teacher education — a salient subject given recent changes to the state’s licensure rules — will speak at Purdue University. Details here.

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  Indiana’s Property Tax Cap, Explained

  Wednesday, March 20: The Indiana Senate Education Committee will vote on two proposals we’ve been following. One bill would expand Indiana’s private school voucher program. The other would create a statewide pre-K pilot program if lawmakers approve it — and given the hearing it received Wednesday, the vote could be close.
• Thursday, March 21: State superintendent Glenda Ritz is on the schedule to testify before the Senate’s Appropriations Committee as it continues its hearings on the state budget. Commissioner for Higher Education Teresa Lubbers is slated to go before the panel shortly thereafter.

What We’re Working On

• We’re looking into changes to the GED exam that could make it tougher to earn the alternative high school diploma. By the way, those who write the GED test are making the changes to better align the credential with the Common Core.
• On that note, we’re continuing our coverage of the new, nationally-crafted Common Core academic standards. Have a question about the new standards? Ask the education reporters. Send us an email, reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter or leave us a comment letting us know your Core Questions.