Indiana

Milestones: In 2011, Governor Mitch Daniels signed legislation to provide vouchers to qualifying families to pay the cost of tuition and fees at public or private schools.

            Choice Scholarships (HB 1003)
            House Sponsors: Speaker Brian Bosma and Robert Behning
            Senate Sponsors: Dennis Kruse, Carlin Yoder, Jim Banks, et al.

            Teacher Quality (SB 1)
            House Sponsor: Robert Behning
            Senate Sponsors: Jim Banks, Dennis Kruse and Carlin Yoder

            Charter Schools (HB 1002)
            House Sponsors: Speaker Brian Bosma and Robert Behning 
            Senate Sponsors: Jim Banks, Jim Buck, Dennis Kruse, et al. 

“Bold Legislation for a Better Education” Jeb Bush, et al. in the Indianapolis Star on March 6, 2011
“Florida blazes path in modernizing teaching” Jeb Bush in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette on April 1, 2011  

In 2010, Governor Mitch Daniels signed legislation to end social promotion for students who cannot read by the end of third grade, Indiana’s State Board of Education adopted the A-F grading scale through administrative rule and the Advisory Board of the Division of Professional Standards within Dept. of Education adopted alternative routes for teacher certification through administrative rule.  State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett shepherded the adoption of these reforms through the legislative and administrative processes. 

Reading for Learning (HB 1367/Public Law 221)

House Author: House Education Chair Gregory W. Porter

Senate Sponsors: Sen. Luke Kenley, Dennis Kruse and Earline Rogers

School Grades (LSA Document No. 09-995)

Teachers: Alternative Certification ("Rules for Educator Preparation and Accountability" REPA)

“Clear policy needed to stop failure,” Patricia Levesque in the Indianapolis Star on February 21, 2010

“Retaining students forces schools to act,” Dr. Jay P. Greene in the Indianapolis Star on February 21, 2010