Morning Bell: Lawmakers Consider Voucher Expansion, Preschool Pilot

Elle Moxley / StateImpact Indiana

Students from Paddock View Residential Center watch the live feed outside the Indiana Supreme Court during oral arguments in a challenge of the state's voucher law. The private school is one of 289 participating in the Choice Scholarship Program.

Indiana voucher expansion scheduled for vote – “ … the debate in the Legislature is racing ahead of the voucher lawsuit that’s currently awaiting a ruling by the Indiana Supreme Court. The voucher system that Gov. Mike Pence and some lawmakers are now pushing is different from the system that was described in legal briefs and testimony for the lawsuit.” (Here’s a look at the proposed changes to the state’s Choice Scholarship Program, as well as a recap of oral arguments before the Indiana Supreme Court last year.) School Matters

Indiana legislation earmarks $14 million for preschool program – “The measure would fund a two-year pilot program to measure the effect of preschool experience. Initially, the bill would earmark $7 million for each year to send about 1,000 low-income children to approved preschool programs.” Indianapolis Star

IU, Purdue Against Giving Regional Campuses More Autonomy – “IU and Purdue officials say they‘re open to discussions. But both universities say the bill would create inefficient parallel structures at a time when they‘re trying to slash costs and answer demands to make college more affordable.” Network Indiana

No Substitute for a Teacher – “Columbia researchers Mariesa Herrmann and Jonah Rockoff concluded that the effect on learning of using a substitute for even a day is greater than the effect of replacing an average teacher with a terrible one, that is, a teacher in the 10th percentile for math instruction and the 20th percentile in English instruction.” Education Next