Education Bills on Second Half Docket
As this year's Indiana legislative session enters its second half, debate continues on key education issues, including Common Core and creating a state-funded preschool pilot program. The House will begin debate on a bill that could void Common Core academic standards and require the state to create new benchmarks, while the Senate will consider a preschool proposal. During the (i) on Education segment on this weekend's edition of Inside INdiana Business Television, State Representative Todd Huston (R-37) and State Senator Greg Taylor (D-33) weighed in on how the session has progressed so far. Indiana is one of 45 states that adopted the Common Core education standards, but the implementation was put on hold after strong resistance.
Taylor says the move would “substantially change” the climate for school districts that have spent time and resources putting together curriculum based on the Common Core. Huston believes standards should “rest in the hands of educational policy makers” on the Indiana State Board of Education.
Huston says “tremendous business support” for state-funded preschool. Taylor hopes to take the idea further, saying he will push next session for full-day kindergarten and a younger compulsory age for Indiana students.
You can view more about the early childhood education bill by clicking here.
You can see the Common Core bill by clicking here.
Source: Inside INdiana Business