While those opposed to Governor Daniels’ legislative agenda continue to make noise and offer misinformation regarding what is actually in that agenda, many Hoosiers have voiced their support for the Governor’s reform-minded goals:

“I am writing you to tell you how much I WANT school vouchers! Please do not cave to the teacher unions and other special interest groups.”

-Matt

“I wanted to tell you and Superintendent Bennett to keep up the good fight. I think there is a historical opportunity presenting itself, let’s not allow it to get away. You have many supporters, even though silently, some teachers. Best of luck and thanks for the courage for taking on such a monumental task, for the sake of our children.”

-James

“Go to it – it is time the power of the unions in education was broken…I see the results of substandard high school teaching every day…we are paying even more to support poor teachers while not rewarding good ones.”

-David

“Our house supports Gov. Daniels and Tony Bennet and the education policies and quality of education that they are trying to support.”

-George

“Good luck with education reform. It appears the left is ready for a fight over it, but I am quite confident you all can handle that. (Being on the right side of an argument certainly helps!)”

-Ben

“I think it’s great what Mitch Daniels is doing.”

-Sage

“Keep up the forward progress…vouchers and charter schools are important to education if it is going to survive and that comes from someone who was in education for 30 years…stay calm and keep the forward movement…thank you for your strong commitment to reform.”

-Dwight

This is a big week for Governor Daniels’ education agenda as the 2011 legislative session continues to move forward. Not only is there support across Indiana for the Governor’s bold plan for improving education for all Hoosier children, but also Indiana is receiving national attention because of the sweeping changes that Governor Daniels hopes to bring to education.

Many of the education proposals that Governor Daniels is supporting during this legislative session have found support in Indiana newspaper editorials. Check out these recent editorials:

“Limit, centralize bargaining for teacher contracts”  The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne)

“Charter closes, standards upheld” The Indianapolis Star

 “Charting a course for charters” The Indianapolis Star

“Real deal about vouchers” The Indianapolis Star

Also, check out this editorial cartoon from Gary Varvel at The Indianapolis Star:

National publications also have taken note of Indiana’s push to transform education. This Daily Caller article referred to Governor Daniels as a “consistent advocate of education reform.”

An article in the Washington Post noted that, “it does appear that what he’s doing is prioritizing one goal (education reform, with vouchers, charter schools, and teacher accountability).”

As the House Democrats return to Indianapolis, education reform is going to pick up momentum in the Statehouse. Bills will be debated and votes will be held.  Supporters of reform will be rallying at the State House on March 30 (for more info on the rally, go to www.edreformrocksrally.org). 

If you believe in the education agenda put forth by Governor Daniels, it is time to get involved!

Check out  http://www.aiminghigherindiana.com/find-your-legislator/ to find your legislator and let them know that you support rewarding and protecting our best teachers and giving Hoosier children access to expanded educational opportunities that fit their needs.

Recently, about 250 supporters of Aiming Higher Inc. and change in K-12 education came together to discuss and explore the importance of the education proposals that are in front of the 2011 Indiana General Assembly.

Before the Legislature convened, Governor Daniels unveiled an aggressive agenda aimed at transforming the educational experience for Hoosier children. In the coming weeks, legislators will have the opportunity to vote on historic pieces of legislation that will ensure that Indiana students have access to some of the best educational opportunities in the country. In order to highlight the proposals of Governor Daniels and lawmakers and to help draw public awareness to such a significant issue, Aiming Higher invited an expert panel to discuss the state of education in Indiana and what education might look like if the comprehensive education plan becomes law.

David Harris, the founder and CEO of the Mind Trust and formerly a top aide to Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, explained that one of the keys to improving education for children is to restore prestige to the teaching profession. He cited the fact that Teach for America is now recruiting students who are graduating at the top of their classes from some of the best universities in the country as evidence that this can happen and improved student outcomes will be the result.

Marcus Robinson, Principal and CEO of Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School, has the words “College or Die” displayed prominently as you enter the building. He noted that poorly performing charter schools should be shut down, but he was excited to report that because of its incredible success rate (honored as a Blue Ribbon School by the State of Indiana) the Tindley School’s charter recently had been renewed for another seven years.

Robert Enlow, CEO of the Foundation for Educational Choice and national expert on the topic told a story about his favorite street corner in Milwaukee.  This corner has a traditional public school, a charter school, a private school, and a magnet school on each of the four corners. He explained that these schools share resources and, at times, students. They have flourished, not in spite of one another, but because of one another through the healthy competition that they create.  This competition works to the benefit of the students, and, as Enlow noted, every state with a choice program has found success and Indiana needs to make itself a leader in this field.

As the legislative session continues, it is critical that you let your legislators know that you support the Governor’s comprehensive education plan.  You can contact them by calling 317-232-9600, or go to http://www.aiminghigherindiana.com/find-your-legislator/ and look them up that way.

Thanks for Aiming Higher with us!

One critical component of Governor Daniels’ bold agenda for transforming education in Indiana is to provide school vouchers for low and middle-income families to use to send their children to private schools of their choice.

The Indianapolis-based Foundation for Educational Choice recently released a report, “A Win-Win Solution: The Empirical Evidence on School Vouchers,” which examines voucher research over the past two decades. The report, authored by the Foundation’s senior fellow Dr. Greg Forster, highlights the positive effects that vouchers can have on ensuring that children receive the education that they deserve, whether they attend public or private schools. The Foundation’s report found that nine out of ten “gold standard” studies on school voucher use in the United States demonstrated that vouchers academically benefitted the students who were able to use them. The Foundation also found that 18 of the 19 empirical studies that examined the effects of vouchers on the public school system demonstrated that vouchers improved public schools!

Forster asserts that student performance would have increased even more if voucher programs were available to all students instead of being limited by factors like family income and caps on the number of available vouchers. With more competition, Forster says, there is more incentive for public education to improve.

Twenty-six school choice programs in 16 states and Washington, D.C. allow more than 190,000 students to use public funds (that normally would be spent to educate them in a traditional public school) to attend a private school of their choice. Robert Enlow, President and CEO of the Foundation for Educational Choice said, “Choice works. We have known that for a while now. This review of all the research underscores it. What we need now is more choice for more kids to achieve more success.” 

To see more research about school choice programs, go to www.edchoice.org.

The Indiana State Teachers Association has long done a great job of what it is supposed to do: protect its members. It spends millions of dollars a year on political activity to elect people who will support their constant demands for more money, less accountability and protection of the status quo in education.  

It has also been rumored that they are raising money for the Indiana Democrat Party to help support the walkout of the House Democrats, who remain holed up in Urbanna, IL instead of doing their jobs on behalf of taxpayers back here in Indiana.

ISTA claims in the FAQ section of its very informative website that its mission is to “To provide the resources necessary to enable local affiliates to effectively advocate for members, children and for public education.”

Sounds reasonable enough.  However, on the same FAQ page under the title “What have been some of ISTA’s major accomplishments?” ISTA lists these things:

“Landmark gains for Indiana educators and other public school employees, including collective bargaining, early retirement, pregnancy law leave and protection for school employees against assault.”

Notice anything missing there?  How about “tremendous gains for students” or “increased test scores” or “better outcomes for students.” 

Check out this recent headline from the Star -  “Survey: More Hoosiers think school performance has worsened”

And this quote from the study: “Most of those who answered the survey, conducted by Indiana University’s Center for Evaluation and Education Policy, said schools have remained about the same — 45.5 percent, up from 41.8 percent in 2008. But those citing a decline in schools jumped to 25.9 percent from 20.6 in 2008. It was the first time in the seven years of survey when the percentages who said schools declined in quality grew.”

So about half of Hoosiers think schools are the same, and a quarter think they are getting worse.  But the leaders of our state’s teachers union think absolutely nothing needs to change. They even come to the Statehouse in large numbers to make that point very clear.

In other words, in a state where 25,000 children drop out of school every year, nothing has to change.  There is nothing we need to do differently, except maybe spend more money.  Is that the best they can do?  Is that the best we can do?  Is that the best you can do?

Call you legislator today and tell them to support Governor Daniels’ Education Program. You can find your legislator’s contact info at http://www.aiminghigherindiana.com/.  Or call the House operator at 317-232-9600 and they will connect you.

And don’t forget who is at the Statehouse trying to make a difference in the education of our children, and who is hiding from their responsibilities in Illinois!