Senate OKs parts of Daniels’ education agenda

The Republican-led Indiana Senate approved several key pieces of GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels' aggressive education agenda Tuesday, including a bill to limit teachers' collective bargaining rights and a bill linking teacher pay to student performance.

Minority Democrats have objected to the proposals and teachers have protested, saying they're under attack from Republicans who control the Statehouse. Union workers protesting a labor bill at the Statehouse on Tuesday held signs urging senators to vote against the education proposals, but Republicans pushed the bills through the chamber and they now move to the Republican-ruled House, where they are expected to meet a friendly audience.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett, also a Republican, said in a statement that the bills advanced what he called education reform.

"I am encouraged by our lawmakers' resolve to advance these much-needed proposals despite vocal minority opposition," Bennett said. "If we are able to maintain this momentum, Indiana will emerge from this legislative session as the nation's leader in education reforms that put students at the center of every decision."

The Senate voted 30-19 for the collective bargaining bill, which would limit collective bargaining agreements between local districts and teachers' unions to wages and wage-related benefits. Supporters said teacher contracts shouldn't include details that do little to improve academics, such as requiring comfortable teachers' lounges.

Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, said current rules give too much power to teachers unions and that the bill is a fair way to recognize the importance of teachers as well as local districts.

"We have struck a balance here," Kenley said.

But critics said the bill erodes union power, and argued that local districts should determine what's in contracts. Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, said changes made to the bill as it moved through the legislative session improved it slightly — but she compared the efforts to putting lipstick on a pig.

"This bill is still a pig," she said, adding that she hopes it eventually dies in a slaughterhouse.

The Senate later voted 29-20 for the merit pay bill, which would require yearly teacher evaluations. Teachers would be ranked into one of four categories, and those who fall into the lowest two categories wouldn't get any automatic pay raises. Local districts would create their own evaluation systems but would have to include objective measures of student achievement.

Supporters say the bill aims to recognize and reward outstanding teachers.

"I want to have teachers honored," said bill sponsor Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn. "I'm not a teacher-basher. I want them to excel and improve as a teacher. That's what this bill is designed to do."

Critics say test scores shouldn't play a heavy role in evaluations, and also opposed a provision in the bill that allows up to 50 percent of teachers at a charter schools to be unlicensed.

"I don't understand the dumbing down of the teaching profession," said Sen. Tim Skinner, D-Terre Haute. "I don't see how that's going to improve student performance."

The Senate also voted 39-10 to approve Daniels' proposal to give high school students a $3,500 post-secondary scholarship if they graduate from high school a year early.

The votes Tuesday add to the legislative success Daniels has had in advancing his education agenda. The House previously approved a bill expanding charter schools — legislation that supporters say would give families more options but opponents say would siphon money away from traditional public schools.

However, one big part of Daniels' education agenda is still awaiting a vote in the House. That controversial bill would implement a voucher system that would use taxpayer money to help parents send their children to private schools. The voucher bill would have to pass the House by Friday to stay alive, and a boycott by Democrats there could jeopardize its future.