Eric Holcomb on Education

	Eric Holcomb on Education

State should cover cost of "curriculum fees" paid by parents

For parents of school-aged children, fees for curriculum materials essential for in-class instruction can be hundreds of dollars each year--per child--depending on the district! Sadly, Indiana remains one of only seven states that still allows this disguised tax to be levied on parents. Our state constitution promises a tuition-free education. Let's cover the full cost of curriculum fees paid for by parents so that--starting next school year--no parent receives such a dreadful bill again. Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature , Jan 10, 2023

Parents deserve options but not at expense of public schools

Parents not only deserve to have options about where they send their child to be educated--after-all, they pay for it--but at the same time, those options shouldn't come at the expense of the public school system, which educates 90% of Hoosier children. Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature , Jan 19, 2021

Help Hoosiers obtain post-secondary education for jobs

We'll continue our emphasis on helping all Hoosiers--whether you're 15 or 50--obtain the post-secondary educations that are needed to step into today's job market. The "Workforce Ready" and "Employer Grant" Programs we put in place are making a huge difference for Hoosiers, moving more of them into higher-paying jobs and increasing the number of people achieving a post-secondary education. Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Indiana legislature , Jan 19, 2021

$115 million to increase teacher pay, more to come

I created the Teacher Compensation Commission and asked them to come up with a sustainable plan to make our teacher salaries competitive with other Midwestern states. Last year, we devoted an unprecedented increase of $763 million new dollars in K-12 education, including paying down $150 million in the Teacher Retirement Fund, which freed up $65 million more a year for teacher pay increases.

More Indiana school districts have raised teacher salaries this year than in any other year in recent history. I am recommending that the General Assembly use an additional $250 million from our surplus and put it toward teacher retirement funds. In turn, $50 million a year will be generated to redirect to teacher pay. Together that's $115 million more available annually to increase teacher pay with more to come after the Compensation Commission releases its recommendations.

Source: 2020 Indiana State of the State address , Jan 14, 2020

Supports teaching creation science in public schools

Legislative Summary: SB373: A public secondary school student may receive elective academic credits for released time religious instruction classes.

Summary by Washington Times-Herald, 2/20/19: SB373 introduced sweeping changes to the role religion plays in public schools, opening the door for schools to teach courses on creation science and Bible studies. Under SB373, public high schools would be able to count time spent by a student on optional religious instruction as academic credit.

Columbia Law School update: On Feb. 21, 2019, the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development approved amendments to SB373. The amendments removed the section allowing the governing body of a school corporation to require the teaching of creation science and other theories regarding the origin of life.

Legislative Summary: Passed House 67-26-7 on 4/2/19; Passed Senate 40-8-2 on 4/8/19; Signed by Governor on 5/5/19; Public Law #226

Source: Columbia Law School analysis of Indiana voting record SB1318 , May 5, 2019

Early start on career paths in opportunity industries

Our efforts and investments are designed to meet the goal of ensuring 60 percent of Hoosier adults have a high-value credential beyond high school. We must get our kids to start thinking about their career paths earlier in their lives. We will introduce every student to career and apprenticeship options in Indiana's key opportunity industries. We'll support students who seek a four-year degree and those who don't, so that everyone has a pathway to a fulfilling career. Source: 2019 State of the State address to Indiana legislature , Jan 15, 2019

$140M to increase teacher pay

We're in a financial position to use surplus dollars to pay off a pension liability that local schools currently pay. Just like paying off your mortgage frees up money in your personal budget, this state investment will save all local schools $140 million over the biennium with continued savings thereafter. I believe local school districts should allocate 100 percent of the $140 million to increasing teacher paychecks. Source: 2019 State of the State address to Indiana legislature , Jan 15, 2019

Give parents the freedom to choose child's school

Here at home, we have seen in practice, not in theory, what happens when we honestly balance budgets, cut taxes, create a savings account for rainy days, build roads and bridges, and give parents the freedom to choose in which school their child can best learn. We have proven just how productive we can be when we are for something rather than against everything but the perfect. Source: Holcomb's Kokomo Tribune OpEd on 2016 Indiana Senate race , Jul 9, 2015

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