The Daily Report Card: Public Meetings, Voucher Laws, And “Welcoming Schools”

In The Classroom Today

Bill proposes public meetings on school leader contracts – Post-Tribune Indiana school districts would have to hold public meetings on proposed superintendent contracts under a bill going through the Indiana General Assembly. A handful of Northwest Indiana school districts, including Gary Community School Corp., Portage Township Schools and Kankakee Valley School Corp., are searching for new superintendents. The bill, which is scheduled for a second reading Tuesday in the Indiana House, requires districts to hold the meeting and hear public testimony at least seven days before the school district enters into the contract. (posttrib.suntimes.com)

Judge upholds Ind. school voucher law, rejects claims it unconstitutionally supports religion – The Washington Post A judge upheld Indiana’s school voucher law on Friday, rejecting opponents’ arguments that the largest such program in the nation unconstitutionally uses public money to support religion. Marion Superior Court Judge Michael Keele said the School Choice Scholarship program doesn’t violate the state constitution because the state isn’t directly funding parochial schools. Instead, it gives scholarship vouchers to parents, who can choose where to use them. That was essentially the argument made by the program’s supporters. (ashingtonpost.com)

Bill Would Label Welcoming Schools “Family Friendly” | News – Indiana Public Media A bill that aims to create “family friendly” schools in Indiana is headed to the full House for consideration after earning the endorsement of the chamber‘s education committee. The bill’s sponsor, Representative Mary Ann Sullivan (D-Indianapolis), says it would require the Indiana Department of Education to invite community organizations that promote parental involvement to assess factors such as how parents are greeted at a school’s front desk “The purpose of the program is to create a designation for Indiana schools, [the] Indiana Family Friendly Schools designation, that would recognize and honor really excellent practice with engaging families in school life,” Sullivan says. (indianapublicmedia.org)