PROMOTING FREEDOM IN EDUCATION
School Scholarships
HB 1003
Summary: Increases the amount, from $1,000 to $3,000, that a taxpayer may deduct for certain unreimbursed education expenditures. Provides that a taxpayer may carry forward a school scholarship income tax credit for a taxable year that begins after December 31, 2012. Establishes a preschool education scholarship and tax credit program. Provides a 50% state income tax credit to a taxpayer that makes a contribution to a preschool scholarship granting organization for use by the organization in an eligible preschool education scholarship program for eligible preschool students. Provides that the program is administered by the division of family resources (division). Requires the division to determine whether a preschool scholarship program meets the standards for certification and to enter into an agreement with a preschool scholarship granting organization that offers a certified program. Provides that a student may be eligible for a choice scholarship if the student: (1) was enrolled in grade 1 through grade 12 in a public school within or outside Indiana before the first semester for which the individual receives a choice scholarship; (2) is in foster care; (3) is a child with a disability who requires special education; (4) is a sibling of an individual who previously received a choice scholarship or a scholarship from a scholarship granting organization; (5) has a parent who has received an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States or national guard or is currently serving in the armed forces of the United States or national guard; or (6) is an individual who is enrolled in an eligible school at the time the individual first meets income requirements.
AFP Position: Support
Reason: Expands choice in education to more Hoosiers. The result will be more options to Hoosier families seeking a quality education for their children. Hoosiers parents should have the opportunity to send their children to the school that best meets their individual needs.
Status: Passed the House, Moves to the Senate 2/21/13
Various Education Matters
HB 1334
Summary: Provides that a teacher is entitled to an income tax deduction for certain qualified education expenditures. Provides that the amount of the deduction is the lesser of: (1) the amount of the qualified education expenditure; or (2) $1,000. Permits the department of administration to contract for the availability of personal liability insurance for public and nonpublic school teachers in Indiana. Prohibits a school employer from deducting from a teacher’s salary any amount that is a contribution or payment for political activities. Repeals a provision requiring a school employer to deduct union dues from a teacher’s salary and allows a deduction based on a school employee’s authorization that is valid for one-year periods. Provides that a school employee who believes a violation of the dues deduction provisions has occurred may file a complaint with the attorney general. Requires the state board of accounts to include a report concerning a school employer’s compliance with the dues deduction provisions as part of its examinations and requires referral to the attorney general for instances of noncompliance. Provides that if a certificated employee is required to renew the certificated employee’s license in the same year the certificated employee receives a designation as highly effective, the certificated employee is not subject to the continuing education requirements in order to renew the certificated employee’s teaching license. Provides that if a certificated employee is required to renew the certificated employee’s license in the same year the certificated employee receives a designation as effective, the certificated employee is only required to complete either: (1) three (3) hours of college or university course work; or (2) fifty percent (50%) of the professional growth experience growth points; required to renew the certificated employee’s teaching license. Provides that a governing body may request the state board to waive any rule adopted by the state board for a school contained in the school corporation if the school has been placed in the two highest categories or designations of school performance.
AFP Position: Support
Reason: Government entities such as schools should not be in the business of collecting political contributions via automatic paycheck deductions. Moreover, employees and union members should not be forced to contribute to causes or political efforts that they may oppose. We believe HB 1334 goes a long way in protecting this right for public school teachers.
Status: 2nd Reading in the House, Ordered Engrossed 2/21/13
Choice Scholarship Eligibility
SB 184
Summary: Provides that a sibling of a student who is receiving a choice scholarship is eligible to receive a choice scholarship without first attending two semesters in a public school or receiving a scholarship from a scholarship granting organization.
AFP Position: Support
Reason: This bill expands the successful Choice Scholarship program, allowing greater access for Hoosier families to quality education options. A family that has already qualified for the program should not be required to start their other child or children at a public school. This places an unnecessary burden on Hoosiers families.
Status: Heard in Committee 1/30/13
Performance Qualified School Districts
SB 189
Summary: Establishes performance-qualified school districts to provide flexibility in administration and instruction to school corporations that meet certain performance criteria. Provides that a performance-qualified school district is exempt from certain education statutes, rules, and guidelines applicable to school boards or school corporations. Sets forth the performance criteria that must be met and the statutes, rules, and guidelines with which a performance-qualified school district must continue to comply.
AFP Position: Support
Reason: Reducing regulations should always be the goal of government, especially when it can be determined that local school corporations are doing a good job of managing their affairs.
Status: Passed the Senate, Moves to the House 2/18/13
Common Core State Educational Standards
SB 193
Summary: Provides that the state board of education may not adopt as standards for the state any common core educational standards developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Voids any action taken to adopt common core educational standards.
AFP Position: Support
Reason: There are real concerns that national Common Core education standards will result in a loss of quality, an increase in cost and an increase federal involvement in Indiana’s education policy. AFP supports stopping the implementation of Common Core and conducting a thorough study to determine the best approach to education standards in Indiana.
Status: Passed the Senate, Moves to the House 2/21/13
PROMOTING FREEDOM IN EDUCATION
School Scholarships
HB 1003
Summary: Increases the amount, from $1,000 to $3,000, that a taxpayer may deduct for certain unreimbursed education expenditures. Provides that a taxpayer may carry forward a school scholarship income tax credit for a taxable year that begins after December 31, 2012. Establishes a preschool education scholarship and tax credit program. Provides a 50% state income tax credit to a taxpayer that makes a contribution to a preschool scholarship granting organization for use by the organization in an eligible preschool education scholarship program for eligible preschool students. Provides that the program is administered by the division of family resources (division). Requires the division to determine whether a preschool scholarship program meets the standards for certification and to enter into an agreement with a preschool scholarship granting organization that offers a certified program. Provides that a student may be eligible for a choice scholarship if the student: (1) was enrolled in grade 1 through grade 12 in a public school within or outside Indiana before the first semester for which the individual receives a choice scholarship; (2) is in foster care; (3) is a child with a disability who requires special education; (4) is a sibling of an individual who previously received a choice scholarship or a scholarship from a scholarship granting organization; (5) has a parent who has received an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States or national guard or is currently serving in the armed forces of the United States or national guard; or (6) is an individual who is enrolled in an eligible school at the time the individual first meets income requirements.
AFP Position: Support
Reason: Expands choice in education to more Hoosiers. The result will be more options to Hoosier families seeking a quality education for their children. Hoosiers parents should have the opportunity to send their children to the school that best meets their individual needs.
Status: Passed the House, Moves to the Senate 2/21/13
Various Education Matters
HB 1334
Summary: Provides that a teacher is entitled to an income tax deduction for certain qualified education expenditures. Provides that the amount of the deduction is the lesser of: (1) the amount of the qualified education expenditure; or (2) $1,000. Permits the department of administration to contract for the availability of personal liability insurance for public and nonpublic school teachers in Indiana. Prohibits a school employer from deducting from a teacher’s salary any amount that is a contribution or payment for political activities. Repeals a provision requiring a school employer to deduct union dues from a teacher’s salary and allows a deduction based on a school employee’s authorization that is valid for one-year periods. Provides that a school employee who believes a violation of the dues deduction provisions has occurred may file a complaint with the attorney general. Requires the state board of accounts to include a report concerning a school employer’s compliance with the dues deduction provisions as part of its examinations and requires referral to the attorney general for instances of noncompliance. Provides that if a certificated employee is required to renew the certificated employee’s license in the same year the certificated employee receives a designation as highly effective, the certificated employee is not subject to the continuing education requirements in order to renew the certificated employee’s teaching license. Provides that if a certificated employee is required to renew the certificated employee’s license in the same year the certificated employee receives a designation as effective, the certificated employee is only required to complete either: (1) three (3) hours of college or university course work; or (2) fifty percent (50%) of the professional growth experience growth points; required to renew the certificated employee’s teaching license. Provides that a governing body may request the state board to waive any rule adopted by the state board for a school contained in the school corporation if the school has been placed in the two highest categories or designations of school performance.
AFP Position: Support
Reason: Government entities such as schools should not be in the business of collecting political contributions via automatic paycheck deductions. Moreover, employees and union members should not be forced to contribute to causes or political efforts that they may oppose. We believe HB 1334 goes a long way in protecting this right for public school teachers.
Status: 2nd Reading in the House, Ordered Engrossed 2/21/13
Choice Scholarship Eligibility
SB 184
Summary: Provides that a sibling of a student who is receiving a choice scholarship is eligible to receive a choice scholarship without first attending two semesters in a public school or receiving a scholarship from a scholarship granting organization.
AFP Position: Support
Reason: This bill expands the successful Choice Scholarship program, allowing greater access for Hoosier families to quality education options. A family that has already qualified for the program should not be required to start their other child or children at a public school. This places an unnecessary burden on Hoosiers families.
Status: Heard in Committee 1/30/13
Performance Qualified School Districts
SB 189
Summary: Establishes performance-qualified school districts to provide flexibility in administration and instruction to school corporations that meet certain performance criteria. Provides that a performance-qualified school district is exempt from certain education statutes, rules, and guidelines applicable to school boards or school corporations. Sets forth the performance criteria that must be met and the statutes, rules, and guidelines with which a performance-qualified school district must continue to comply.
AFP Position: Support
Reason: Reducing regulations should always be the goal of government, especially when it can be determined that local school corporations are doing a good job of managing their affairs.
Status: Passed the Senate, Moves to the House 2/18/13
Common Core State Educational Standards
SB 193
Summary: Provides that the state board of education may not adopt as standards for the state any common core educational standards developed by the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Voids any action taken to adopt common core educational standards.
AFP Position: Support
Reason: There are real concerns that national Common Core education standards will result in a loss of quality, an increase in cost and an increase federal involvement in Indiana’s education policy. AFP supports stopping the implementation of Common Core and conducting a thorough study to determine the best approach to education standards in Indiana.
Status: Passed the Senate, Moves to the House 2/21/13