Weekly Planner: Bill To Require School Seclusion & Restraint Policies Gets Vote
Dan Goldblatt / Indiana Public Broadcasting
Indiana lawmakers will consider several education initiatives this week.
A Senate proposal to require Indiana schools adopt formal policies governing the use of seclusion rooms and physical restraint goes to the House this week. If SB 345 passes, it would also establish a commission to develop a statewide model plan ahead of the 2014-15 school year.
We’ve reached the point in the session where several proposed education bills are moving through the General Assembly, including a bill that would expand the state’s voucher program.
We noted last week that last-minute amendments scraped extending eligibility to incoming kindergartners. Now the proposal lets students who attend schools who received an F from the state last year receive a voucher to attend private school.
Also headed to the Senate floor: Legislation intended to curb the number of Indiana students seeking waivers to graduate from high school.
Coming Up Next Week:
- Monday: The House Ways and Means Committee will consider a school safety bill that requires armed personnel in every Indiana school. That amendment was added last week to a proposal that would provide $10 million in state money to districts wanting to hire school resource officers.
- Tuesday: The Indiana Coalition for Public Education will host a community conversation at 7 p.m. at the Bloomington City Hall Council Chambers, 401 N Morton St. Fort Wayne activists Phyllis Bush and Anne Duff as well as education blogger Steve Hinnefeld will discuss the question, “Why Defend Our Public Schools Now?”
What We’re Working On:
- I’ll follow up last week’s look at the how the Common Core is changing math instruction for Indiana’s youngest students with posts on how teachers score homework and why the debate over math standards isn’t new.
- Kyle takes a look at a proposal to grade schools of education.
