Morning Bell: Ritz, Pence On Same Page On First-Day Executive Order

Brandon Smith / IPBS

Gov. Mike Pence signs several executive orders as Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, left, looks on. Included in the orders Pence signed was a directive to end the IDOE's oversight over the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board.

Ritz: No problem with Pence rescinding executive order on board oversight – “Ritz said she was ‘upset’ over Daniels’ executive order in the first place and had no problem with Pence’s move. ‘I think it should operate as a separate entity and not be swayed by anybody in the Department of Education,’ she said. ‘I thought it was a conflict of interest.'” Evansville Courier & Press

In defense of Common Core – “All this makes for a fun side show, but the real question should be: Will students be helped or hurt if Indiana jettisons the [Common Core]? This time, Bennett and Bush are on the right side.” School Matters

Before officially taking office as Purdue University president, Daniels holds first meeting – “Less than three hours after Mitch Daniels shed the title of governor on Monday, he walked into a meeting on the campus of Purdue University as its soon-to-be president.” Lafayette Journal & Courier

Gov. Pence’s education tightrope – “Indiana’s public school teachers would likely tell him they haven’t had the freedom to teach in recent years, and those same teachers are the force responsible for defeating Bennett. They aren’t likely to be appeased by Pence’s repeated reminders that his wife Karen is a teacher and that she thinks Indiana teachers are great.” Learning Curve

Happy Birthday, NCLB! – “My default setting is that most major K–12 decisions should be made by states and the entities they create for these purposes. But evidence since the mid-1960s shows that this formula has led to lots of disadvantaged kids falling and staying behind.” Education Next