Statewide officesJohn Gregg, Candidate for Governor
*Glenda Ritz, Candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Indiana State Senate (Arranged by district)
Justin Kuhnle, Candidate for State Senate, District 13
Juli Dominguez, Candidate for State Senate, District 16
Indiana State House of Representatives (Arranged by district)
*Sue Errington, Candidate for State Representative, District 34
Jorge Fernandez, Candidate for State Representative, District 50
Charlie Odier, Candidate for State Representative, District 52
Bob Haddad, Candidate for State Representative, District 81
Mike Wilber, Candidate for State Representative, District 82
Curtis Nash, Candidate for State Representative, District 84
Kathy Zoucha, Candidate for State Representative, District 85
*Incumbent
** The answers to the questions are from surveys answered by the candidate unless otherwise noted as a summary or from interview notes.
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John Gregg, Candidate for GovernorWhat is your vision for the future of education in Indiana?
As a parent, former university president and longtime advocate of public education, I am committed to ensuring every Hoosier has access to an affordable, high-quality education that leads to a high-wage paying job and a high quality of life. As governor, I will work with State School Superintendent Glenda Ritz to support and improve our public education system, to expand early education opportunities (Pre-K), and to get politics out of the classroom. I will also work to lower student debt and make college more affordable, as well as create new vocational education opportunities throughout the state.
How should we be using tests in our schools? Do we need more or less testing? Should tests be used for grade retention (IREAD-3)? Please explain.
I’ve always believed that we need more time for learning and less time for testing. As a member of the Indiana General Assembly in the 1980s, I voted against the creation of ISTEP. High-stakes, costly exams like iRead3 and ISTEP do not inform instruction. Superintendent Ritz has been advocating for getting rid of iRead3 altogether and for replacing ISTEP with a formative assessment, something that can inform instruction throughout the year. Tests should not be used as a measure to penalize students, but rather as a tool to tell educators how to adjust their teaching in order to help our students learn.
Do you support the use of test scores in teacher evaluations and/or in assigning school letter grades? Please explain.
As every professional educator I’ve ever met does, I support accountability. However, tests are designed for the evaluation of student learning and not the evaluation of teachers. In Indiana, state student test scores are tied to teacher evaluation and compensation. However, it is within the role of a teacher to respond to student assessment and adjust instruction to support student learning. I support locally developed evidence-based evaluation models where the teacher can demonstrate how he/she responds to student assessment to support student learning.
Do you support merit pay for teachers? If so, should it be based on student test scores?
No.
What is your understanding of REPA III? What do you think ought to be the minimum level of training and qualifications for teachers?
From my conversations with educators around the state, I discovered that REPA III was largely a step in the wrong direction. The “adjunct permit” is rooted in the notion that teachers can be licensed with only a bachelor’s degree and no formal pedagogical training. It is an affront to the teaching profession and to the students who benefit from teachers who are licensed and highly-qualified. While I believe there should be alternative pathways for passionate individuals to enter the teaching profession, it should not come at the expense of quality. We must support transition-to-teaching programs because we realize the value of teachers who are masters of their subject areas. However, teachers must also know HOW to teach the content. We must ensure that all pre-service teachers are educated in accredited programs, receive appropriate pedagogical training in those programs, are licensed by the state, and are ultimately mentored by master teachers.
What are your views on charter schools? What are your views on virtual/online schools?
When I served in the General Assembly, then Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson asked that I support a bill creating charter schools. It was only after ISTA endorsed this measure that I supported it. In the years that have passed, these charters have, by-in-large, failed to meet expectations (many of the safeguards in the original bill have been removed by subsequent Republican legislatures). I do not oppose charter schools as a concept, but I do think they should be held to the exact same standards as public schools. Furthermore, in line with Superintendent Ritz, I believe that charter schools should be authorized at the local level, with buy-in from that specific community, instead of decided at the state level, with contracts often going to out-of-state, for-profit companies.
In regards to virtual/online schools, I believe we need much more information about the quality of education being provided. Every student should have access to the most up-to-date technology, including virtual learning, within our public schools but the quality must be monitored. For schools that are completely virtual, they should be held to the same standards as traditional public schools, until proven otherwise.
Indiana currently funds vouchers for private and parochial schools and provides funding for charter schools. What is your opinion of the impact this has on traditional public schools?
The state spent more than $136 million last year on private school vouchers, roughly an 800 percent increase in the number of students in just five years. Estimates show the voucher program will run a $53 million deficit during this school year after limitations were removed by the Legislature. Those millions of tax dollars are taken “off the top” of the education funding bucket before distributions are made to public schools, which has resulted in stagnant or reduced funding for some public school corporations. These financial decisions are often made without any real evaluation of the quality of education being delivered to our students or the impact of lost revenue to our public schools. Several new studies indicate mixed reviews for voucher programs generally. Much more needs to be known about long-term outcomes for Hoosier students and how private school education compares to public education before further expansion occurs.
Do you believe tax dollars should support private and parochial education?
No. While Indiana has amazing private and parochial schools, public schools should be paid for by the public and private schools by private citizens.
Do you agree charter and voucher-accepting schools should be held to the same standards as traditional public schools?
Yes.
Do you agree any school receiving state money should hold board meetings open to the public?
Yes.
Do you support state-funded public pre-K education?
Yes, and it’s one of the cornerstones of my campaign. As we announced along with Superintendent Ritz in June 2016, the Hoosier Community Pre-K Program, which would be funded through a combination of directing existing state early education dollars toward pre-K, capturing unused dollars from various child-related state programs and eliminating wasteful, unnecessary and duplicative programs from the state budget. This statewide pre-K program could be implemented without the use of federal dollars.
State funding would be awarded through a grant to both public and private pre-K providers that meet a level-3 or higher in state certification. Using these funds, providers would build pre-K capacity within the boundaries of a school district community. In order to receive funding, school corporations would be required to form pre-k coalitions with local private and non-profit organizations.
Does class size matter? Explain.
Yes, class size does matter. As a member of the Indiana General Assembly in the 1980s and 1990s, I supported legislation to reduce class size repeatedly. I support smaller class sizes because it means students are able to focus more on learning, and teachers are able to better tailor their lesson plans to the needs of their students.
Do you think there is a teacher shortage? If so, what would you do to correct the situation?
Yes, and to solve it we must begin with ending the war on public education and the teaching profession. Politicians must stop attacking those who teach. We must allow teachers to do their jobs again without meddling from politicians in Indianapolis. Finally, we must pay our teachers more appropriately. We can correct this by electing new leaders with new priorities, who will restore the teaching profession to its rightful place.
Glenda Ritz, Candidate for State Superintendent of Public InstructionWhat is your vision for the future of education in Indiana?
I plan to continue the mission of the Department of Education to build an education system of equity and high quality, focused on student-centered accountability. Our Imagine 2020 document http://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/facebookdocuments/imagine-2020.pdf outlines the accomplishments of my first term and highlights the action strategies that will be needed as we look toward 2020…
- Imagine Indiana Pre-K students having access to fully funded high quality early learning programs.
- Imagine Indiana students having more time for learning and spending less time on testing, outperforming other students in the nation in literacy and problem-solving, and experiencing a well-rounded curriculum.
- Imagine Indiana students leaving our high schools prepared for post-secondary education and training to enter living wage careers, achieving a 91% graduation rate – the highest in the nation.
I entered the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2012 opposing high stakes mandated testing, including the high stakes IREAD-3 test. The end-of-the-year pass/fail on grade level ISTEP tests do not inform instruction and learning. Students should have less testing and more time for learning.
Do you support the use of test scores in teacher evaluations and/or in assigning school letter grades? Please explain.
The purpose of tests should be to inform instruction to support student progress in learning. In our Imagine 2020 document, the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Recruitment and Retention of Excellent Educators recommends a common sense approach regarding the role of tests in the evaluation of teachers…”Include in the local evaluation system an emphasis on how teachers use data from multiple forms of assessment, including informal, teacher-constructed, and standardized assessments to inform instruction and measure student growth, thus clarifying the purpose of and reducing the number of standardized tests.”
Regarding A-F letter grades assigned to schools, I will propose to the General Assembly replacing the A-F school grades with categories that accurately reflect school performance and improvement while maintaining strong school accountability. The current A-F system unfairly labels our students as they leave our high schools. Instead, students should graduate on their own merit, grades, and effort. Indiana is one of 15 states that rate schools A through F.
Do you support merit pay for teachers? If so, should it be based on student test scores?
My Blue Ribbon Commission on the Recruitment and Retention of Excellent Educators recommends the following to the Indiana General Assembly regarding teacher compensation:
Allow for locally-developed compensation models that include a pay scale which has a professionally competitive base and index, increases regularly on the base and expands opportunities for pay based on career paths, including ongoing learning through advanced degrees and/or additional licensure in education or related content areas. Establish and compensate teacher leadership and career ladders that have mentoring opportunities and ongoing advancement, support, and recognition of teacher skills and expertise.
What is your understanding of REPA III? What do you think ought to be the minimum level of training and qualifications for teachers?
I support high standards for certification and licensing of educators. Teachers must be well educated and well prepared to teach our children through rigorous preparation programs. As a National Board Certified Teacher, I am a strong supporter of continuing evaluation and improvement. I believe every teacher should be seeking higher levels of education/professional development and National Board Certification. A teacher is most effective when he/she has a desire to constantly improve and continually learn. I do not support alternative certification methods that lead to little pedagogical training and clinical experiences prior to working with our children.
What are your views on charter schools? What are your views on virtual/online schools?
Charters: In Indiana, there are two groups of charter schools and both groups are considered public schools. While I firmly believe the best education a student can receive is in a traditional public school, I have supported charter schools that are authorized at the local level, in an organic way. Too frequently, however, the Indiana Charter School Board authorizes schools run by for-profit, out-of-state corporations that drain students from nearby traditional public schools. They receive public dollars with little oversight and accountability.
Virtual/Online schools: All students should have access to technology and virtual learning within our traditional public schools. I have put in place the following initiatives:
- In 2013, the Indiana Department of Education created an innovative pathway for schools districts to count days even in the light of inclement weather. To date, the DOE has authorized 144 school districts to participate in the "virtual option," so students are still learning and are still supported even when a snowstorm hits.
- More than half of Indiana's school districts are now 1-to-1 with student devices and access to virtual learning within our classrooms in one or more grade levels.
- The DOE participated in the national "Speak Up Survey" with more than 58,000 students contributing their perspectives on digital learning; Indiana had the largest participation rate in the nation.
- The DOE sponsored professional development opportunities to empower teachers and leaders by hosting regional eLearning conferences attended by more than 8,000 teachers and administrators from 263 of Indiana’s 295 school corporations.
What is your opinion of the impact this has on traditional public schools?
We should examine the long-term academic and fiscal impact of private school vouchers on our public education system. The annual Choice Scholarship Report indicates that in 2015 - 2016, the program cost Hoosier taxpayers an extra $53 million. We must work with the General Assembly to pause the expansion of vouchers in order to complete a thorough evaluation of the Choice Scholarship Program. We need to study the long-term effects of the voucher program by examining its impact on academic achievement, diversity, and public school funding.
Do you believe tax dollars should support private and parochial education?
No
Do you agree charter and voucher-accepting schools should be held to the same standards as traditional public schools?
I support the requirements of state standards, assessment, and accountability.
Do you agree any school receiving state money should hold board meetings open to the public?
Yes.
Do you support state-funded public pre-K education?
Yes. I propose establishing Pre-K programs within all public school district geographical communities by working with the Indiana Early Learning Advisory Committee, Family Social Services Administration, and Department of Health to provide high quality, state-funded, universal access to Pre-K. Pre-K providers will meet the highest levels of the state’s Paths to QUALITYTM program to ensure all 4 year olds have the opportunity to attend a high quality early learning program taught by a highly qualified educator.
- Engage public and private Pre-k programs, families, and communities in early learning.
- Build a high-quality early childhood workforce.
- Increase investments that guarantee quality.
Yes, class size matters. For many years Indiana administered a program called “prime time,” dedicated to reducing the class size. Unfortunately, this program was recently cut. I will, however, continue to believe that smaller class sizes provide more opportunities for a teacher to differentiate and individualize instruction. I will support legislation that reduces class size.
Do you think there is a teacher shortage? If so, what would you do to correct the situation?
Yes, there is an Indiana teacher shortage. The Blue Ribbon Commission on the Recruitment and Retention of Excellent Educators studied Indiana’s teacher shortage and recommended systematic action strategies across the continuum of the teacher profession from recruitment, pre-service, induction to career. The commission identified eight areas of focus (mentoring, positive press, compensation, evaluation and assessment, diverse workforce, clinical experiences, professional development, and career pathways and leadership). The Department of Education is supporting the next steps recommended by the commission.
http://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/blueribbon/blueribbon-report-1.14.2016.pdf
Justin Kuhnle, Candidate for State Senate, District 13Here are Justin's answers to our survey taken as notes by our interview team.
What is your vision for the future of education in Indiana?
Strong education is foundation for a strong community. Give education back to the community to control.
How should we be using tests in our schools? Do we need more or less testing? Should tests be used for grade retention (IREAD-3)?
“I’ve seen the beast.” The problem is that the number doesn’t show real picture of the child. He detailed how child’s environment can influence his/her performance on a test along with test anxiety. He suggested fixing testing in these ways:
- Teachers should have access to the tests so that they know what is on them.
- Tests should be teacher created
- Tests should have grade specific questions (appropriate for grade level)
- Tests should be modified to accommodate SP ED students
- Tests should be no longer than 7 hours total
Tests should be developed at school/district level and approved by state.
Indiana currently funds vouchers for private and parochial schools and provides funding for charter schools. What is your opinion of the impact this has on traditional public schools?
Vouchers and charters have had a negative impact on public school by diverting money from public schools for students who had never attended public schools.
Do you believe tax dollars should support private and parochial education?
Tax dollars should be for public education only. Parents have choice to send their children to private schools, but they should pay for private education.
Do you agree charter and voucher-accepting schools should be held to the same standards as traditional public schools?
Any school that takes tax payer dollars should take the same tests and be held to the same standards.
Do you agree any school receiving state money should hold board meetings open to the public?
The board meetings of any schools receiving tax dollars should be open to the public.
Do you support the use of test scores in teacher evaluations and/or in assigning school letter grades? Do you support merit pay for teachers? If so, should it be based on student test scores?
There should no tie between tests and school letter grades, or between tests and teacher evaluations. Justin is concerned about equitable teacher pay. Evaluations should be determined by local districts.
What are your views on charter schools? What are your views on virtual/online schools?
Justin is critical of for-profit charters and the number of charter authorizers now allowed. He is also critical of online schools; questions how effective they are. The lack of accountability for both types of schools is a problem.
Do you support state-funded public pre-K education?
Justin is in favor of Pre-K ed. He is critical of Pence’s initial refusal of federal money which he is now pursuing.
Does class size matter? Explain.
Class size matters because in smaller classes, students get more one on one attention from teacher. He suggests 20-22 students in elementary classes and 25-28 in high school.
Do you think there is a teacher shortage? If so, what would you do to correct the situation?
The shortage was created by the legislature. "Teachers are the foundation of success for our next generation of Hoosiers, and they should be treated and promoted as such."
Have you visited any public schools within the last year? If so, please share your experiences. If not, will you commit to scheduling a visit in your district before the election?
Working with DCS, Justin is regularly in his schools as part of his job. Currently, he works with students in their schools to help them be successful. He is also a resource for the students’ teachers to help them figure out ways to deal with students who can be difficult and challenging.
Juli Dominguez, Candidate for State Senate, District 16What is your vision for the future of education in Indiana?
I envision an Indiana where all children have access to a public education at the very earliest of ages. Every four-year-old child in the state of Indiana should have to opportunity to attend a quality pre-kindergarten program which is provided to them by their local public school.
I envision an Indiana where high stakes testing has been entirely eliminated and replaced with baseline and benchmark assessments that give teachers and students data and feedback in real time. The purpose of these assessments will be to set learning goals and to show growth and mastery of learned material.
I envision an Indiana where teachers are treated like professionals and compensated as such. Teachers are rewarded for having master’s degrees, national board certifications and extra training that will make them more effective in the classroom.
How should we be using tests in our schools?
We should be using tests in schools to establish a baseline for learning, for setting learning goals and for showing student growth and or mastery of learned material.
Do we need more or less testing? Should tests be used for grade retention (IREAD-3)?
We need less testing. Pre and post assessments give teachers and students data and feedback in real time. There is no need for high stakes testing.
Tests should not be used to determine whether or not a child should be retained in the 3rd grade. There are so many factors as to why a child can't read at their grade level. We should not punish a child because they are unable to read at grade level. Children's brains develop and mature at different rates. Some children have been exposed to language rich homes and others have not. Some children have cognitive delays and or other specific learning disabilities like dyslexia. The social emotional consequences of holding a child back simply because they are not reading at 3rd grade reading level are dire. We should receive extra funding from the state so that children who struggle with reading have access to reading specialists, speech therapists, classrooms full of books. and para professionals who are able to work with students in a one and one setting.
Indiana currently funds vouchers for private and parochial schools and provides funding for charter schools.
What is your opinion of the impact this has on traditional public schools? Do you believe tax dollars should support private and parochial education?
Due to vouchers, Indiana is experiencing a 53-million-dollar deficit. This directs resources away from public school children. Tax dollars should only be accountable for funding public schools, not private schools. Private schools are not held to the same accountability standards as public schools, therefore, taxpayers should not have the burden of funding private schools.
Do you agree charter and voucher-accepting schools should be held to the same standards as traditional public schools?
If they are receiving taxpayer money, absolutely!
Do you agree any school receiving state money should hold board meetings open to the public?
Yes!
Do you support the use of test scores in teacher evaluations and/or in assigning school letter grades?
No! This practice demoralizes children, their teachers and their communities. There is no equity among public schools as long as these letter grades are allowed to continue.
Do you support merit pay for teachers?
No! Teachers are professionals. They do their job and more. They should be paid more for the work they already do. They do not need one more thing added to their list.
What is your understanding of REPA III? What do you think ought to be the minimum level of training and qualifications for teachers?
I am vaguely familiar with REPA III. I believe that teachers should have to complete a program that trains teachers to teach effectively. Someone may have great academic transcripts, but they may not have the art or the soft skills needed in the classroom. I would like to hear more about this issue and know how I can be of assistance.
What are your views on charter schools?
It is to my understanding that charter schools were created to parents and students a choice. However, that has not been evident in their practice. What has been evident is that they are not held accountable to the same standards as public schools, even though they are receiving taxpayer dollars. Additionally, charter schools tend to illegally refuse to enroll disabled children with IEPs.
What are your views on virtual/online schools?
I think that each public school corporation should offer virtual classes as a choice. This is especially helpful for students in the special education realm who may need to be placed on homebound and also for high school students who are in need of credit recovery or who would like to graduate early. Online classes can make a positive impact on students if done correctly, if held accountable and if supported by parents. As public educators, we should strive to meet the needs of our pupils and virtual schools are one way we can differentiate to meet their needs.
Do you support state-funded public pre-K education?
Yes. I started my career as a pre-kindergarten teacher and I know how important that year of school can be to the success of students. Research shows that quality pre-kindergarten programs increase the high school graduation rate and lower the school to prison rate. Students get a jump start on social skills, gross and fine motor skills and pre-literacy skills. A student-centered play based pre-kindergarten program makes all the difference in the world.
Does class size matter? Explain.
Absolutely! Maybe all 3rd graders would know how to read and would be reading at grade level if our class sizes were reduced. When a teacher has over 25 students in a class, the classroom becomes unruly. Students feed off of each other’s' behaviors, the classroom is packed with very little room for movement, the students do not get to have the teacher's full attention and less learning takes place in this chaotic environment. Children deserve better.
Do you think there is a teacher shortage? If so, what would you do to correct the situation?
Yes! Teachers want better working conditions. They want to be treated like professionals, given autonomy, given a voice, a seat at the table, and pay for extra duties like back to school nights and parent teacher conferences. Additionally, teachers want to work their contracted hours and they do not want to take papers home in the evenings and on weekends to grade. This work she be accomplished within the contracted hours. Furthermore, teachers would like classroom stipends so that they can buy classroom supplies for their students without spending their own hard-earned money. I want to give teachers back their dignity and their worth. .
Have you visited any public schools within the last year? If so, please share your experiences. If not, will you commit to scheduling a visit in your district before the election?
I am a public school teacher. I teach Spanish at North Side High School with the FWCS district. I am in the trenches everyday and I am committed to advocating for our public schools, students and teachers every day!
Sue Errington, Candidate for State Representative, District 34What is your vision for the future of education in Indiana?
My vision for the future of education is a state with strong support for public schools where every child has the opportunity to receive a world-class education that prepares them for their adult lives. It’s a state that supports and values educators as professionals and encourages them to be resourceful, creative and dedicated. It’s a state that recognizes that children begin learning from birth and funds high quality early education so that children are kindergarten ready when they reach kindergarten age.
How should we be using tests in our schools?
Tests should be used to inform educators and parents of student progress and whether additional help is needed. They should provide timely feedback. They should provide information on student performance relative to the state standards. They should not be used to evaluate teachers or schools. Unless we separate testing and teacher valuation, we cannot hope to restore morale.
Do you believe tax dollars should support private and parochial education? Do you agree charter and voucher-accepting schools should be held to the same standards as traditional public schools? Do you agree any school receiving state money should hold board meetings open to the public?
I believe the diversion of public funds has had a devastating effect on our public schools where over 90% of Hoosier children receive their education. I don’t oppose private education. However, Indiana can’t adequately fund three types of education systems. The founders of our country recognized that public education is the bedrock of democracy. It still is. Therefore, we should stop subsidizing education for the few and concentrate our resources on improving education for the many. Until that happens, we should hold charter and voucher accepting schools to the same standards as traditional public schools and they should hold board meetings open to the public.
Do you support the use of test scores in teacher evaluations and/or in assigning school letter grades? Do you support merit pay for teachers? If so, should it be based on student test scores?
I do not support the use of test scores in teacher evaluation or in assigning school letter grades. I support merit pay in limited circumstances: to attract teachers to hard to fill subjects such as special education and STEM, to compensate teacher leaders for their extra responsibilities, and to encourage educators to teach in schools in geographically depressed areas. Merit pay should not be based on student test scores.
What is your understanding of REPA III? What do you think ought to be the minimum level of training and qualifications for teachers?
I don’t know the details of REPA III but I know its impact has been to drive highly qualified veteran teachers out of the profession. Teachers should have at least a bachelor's degree and field experience through student teaching or similar hands-on experience.
What are your views on charter schools? What are your views on virtual/online schools?
Some charter schools are excellent; others are mediocre while still others are bad. Unfortunately, there are too many charter operators who “charter shop” when they are shut down by the organization that authorized them and continue to operate a failing school. Good virtual/online schools are helpful to students with special circumstances that bricks and mortar schools cannot accommodate. Otherwise, I believe that students do better in traditional schools.
Do you support state-funded public pre-K education?
Yes, I support high quality state-funded universal early childhood education.
Does class size matter? Explain.
Most people agree that the teacher is the most important influence in a student’s academic experience. Class size matters because children receive more teacher attention and assistance when classes are a manageable size.
Do you think there is a teacher shortage? If so, what would you do to correct the situation?
Yes, there is a teacher shortage. Corrective action includes treating teachers as the professionals that they are, trusting them to teach without the state prescribing how they are to teach. Improving teacher pay, professional development, creating a pathway to remain in the classroom but advance in pay and stature (teacher leaders, master teachers, etc.), provide financial assistance to attract top students into the profession with a requirement that they teach in Indiana schools for a certain number of years after graduation.
Jorge Fernandez, Candidate for State Representative, District 50What is your vision for the future of education in Indiana?
My goal is to remove the focus from standardized testing and instead putting it on giving school districts the tools they need to meet every student’s individual needs.
How should we be using tests in our schools? Do we need more or less testing? Should tests be used for grade retention (IREAD-3)? Please explain.
We should use testing to diagnose the individual needs of students and leave it up to locally elected school district to determine that use. Teachers assess students on a regular basis and thus we are spending too much time removing students for a test that is of questionable value is unwise. On IREAD-3, I support Glenda Ritz position against the use of IREAD for grade retention. As she is State Superintendent and a master teacher with a background in reading, she would be more familiar and better able to answer that question that I would.
Do you support the use of test scores in teacher evaluations and/or in assigning school letter grades? Please explain.
No. Test scores and school letter grades depend on a whole host of factors outside of teachers control, and thus including them in teacher evaluations just serves to punish teachers for the students they have rather than their fulfillment of their responsibilities.
Do you support merit pay for teachers? If so, should it be based on student test scores?
In theory, I support merit pay to reward teachers for good performance, but in reality, the work of a teacher is too complex to be fair enough to determine such a reward, and students test scores should not be included directly, because as I mentioned, they are not accurate measures of teachers’ work and should be used as diagnostic devices.
What is your understanding of REPA III? What do you think ought to be the minimum level of training and qualifications for teachers?
REPA III are licensing rules which allow “adjunct” teaching credentials to teachers only with experience in a related field. This is mistaken in my view. Teachers need at least some education training, ideally with the embedded guided process that is student teaching.
What are your views on charter schools? What are your views on virtual/online schools?
The original stated reason behind charter school was to serve as pilot programs to test the effect of loosening schools from the state’s regulatory burdens, but they have been allowed to become a way for for-profit corporations to avoid regulations while siphoning money away from public schools. I support the Network for Public Education’s position on ending for-profit charters, and we must make sure charters are limited to their original stated intent by limiting their authorizers to publicly accountable bodies, preferably only public school boards. As far as virtual schools, these should likewise be subject to the same standards and public body oversight as public school districts. There is a role for technology in the school system; however, we must make sure that the methods of instruction for each student are effective. There are challenges like counting attendance that make this more difficult.
Indiana currently funds vouchers for private and parochial schools and provides funding for charter schools.
What is your opinion of the impact this has on traditional public schools?
Voucher drain funding from public school districts largely for students that would have gone to private schools anyways. It also creates instability when students transfer back and forth whether forced to or unforced. In my experience, it also tends to draw higher performing students away from schools, which is supported by the evidence that in FWCS seven times more students leave A and B rated schools than D rated schools ( http://wane.com/2015/09/28/enrollment-impacting-fwcs-budget/)
Do you believe tax dollars should support private and parochial education?
No. I believe we need clear lines of distinction between private schools and public schools. Public money should come with public strings attached, and attaching those strings would just turn private schools into public schools.
Do you agree charter and voucher-accepting schools should be held to the same standards as traditional public schools?
Yes, as noted above.
Do you agree any school receiving state money should hold board meetings open to the public?
Yes, likewise.
Do you support state-funded public pre-K education?
Yes. We should not give parents any reasons to avoid such a valuable program. Many students start school behind their peers and availability of quality pre-k is important in leveling that field.
Does class size matter? Explain.
Yes, it just makes sense that students that are able to get more individual attention by the teacher will be in a better position to learn.
Do you think there is a teacher shortage? If so, what would you do to correct the situation?
A piece I wrote was featured in the Journal Gazette, where I came out strongly as to the existence of a teacher shortage. I will do what I can to improve working conditions, improve teacher pay, and all in all treat teachers like the professionals we are. Again, respecting the work of the choice of Hoosiers to run the Department of Education, I will work to try to implement priority recommendations from Ritz’ blue ribbon commission on the teacher shortage.
Charlie Odier, Candidate for State Representative, District 52The following is a summary of Charlie's interview with NEIFPE members.
Charlie on High Stakes Testing:
There should be less standardized testing. Teachers can be trusted to know what their students need.
Charlie on Vouchers:
Vouchers go mostly to parochial schools. Public tax dollars should not go to support religious schools. There needs to be separation of church and state.
Charlie on Charter Schools:
Charter schools are private corporations and shouldn't get tax dollars.
"If you want to open a charter school, go ahead. Just don't do it with my money."
Charters that are getting tax dollars need to have public oversight.
Charlie on Post Secondary Education
We need affordable colleges and trade schools and to support apprenticeship programs. Students shouldn't have to go deep into debt to get an education.
Bob Haddad, Candidate for State Representative, District 81The following is a summary of Bob's interview with NEIFPE members.
Bob‘s Vision for the future of education
“We should take a cue from our past with respect to teaching and child development. We are off track.” Bob would like to see us get back to local control of local schools. He thinks that we should have a spirit of “collaboration instead of collusion” in our public education system.
Bob on Testing
Bob would like to see a stop to the wasteful spending on testing and a moratorium on new tests. He says that current tests take away from teaching time, are intrusive and lack test company accountability. Test development should be teacher led. Bob thinks that the current obsession with numbers and data is not necessarily a good thing for children.
Bob on Charter Schools
“Charter schools overpromise and underdeliver.” Bob thinks that they are not proven to be any more effective that public schools.
Bob on Vouchers
Bob thinks that vouchers undermine the public education system.
Bob on Merit Pay
“Merit pay has no merit.”
Mike Wilber, Candidate for State Representative, District 82The following is a summary of Mike's interview with NEIFPE members.
Mike on High Stakes Testing:
"We test too much!" Mike believes teachers know students' abilities without the overuse of standardized tests. He believes that tests should have a single purpose: evaluation of students and their individual growth. Tests scores should NOT be used to evaluate teachers or to grade schools.
Mike on Vouchers and Charter Schools:
Mike would like to see a moratorium on vouchers so that legislators could "step back" and assess the real effects of school choice. Mike is against "for profit" schools (charters) and favors open board meetings for all schools that accept public dollars (voucher schools, charter schools, and traditional public schools).
Mike on the Future of Public Education:
According to Mike, schools would benefit if legislators loosened control and allowed teachers, administrators and school boards to run local public schools.
Curtis Nash, Candidate for State Representative, District 84What is your vision for the future of education in Indiana?
Ideally, the future of education in Indiana is an apolitical entity, serving the needs of individual students.
How should we be using tests in our schools? Do we need more or less testing? Should tests be used for grade retention (IREAD-3)?
I don’t believe they accurately indicate what a student learns, so less standardized testing. No on grade retention tests.
Indiana currently funds vouchers for private and parochial schools and provides funding for charter schools.
What is your opinion of the impact this has on traditional public schools?
It supports the idea that some schools, people are more worthy of attention than others.
Do you believe tax dollars should support private and parochial education?
No.
Do you agree charter and voucher-accepting schools should be held to the same standards as traditional public schools?
Yes.
Do you agree any school receiving state money should hold board meetings open to the public?
Yes.
Do you support the use of test scores in teacher evaluations and/or in assigning school letter grades? Do you support merit pay for teachers?
No to all.
What is your understanding of REPA III? What do you think ought to be the minimum level of training and qualifications for teachers?
Undermines standards that the Indiana Department of Education sets. – also gives a permanent end-around for those standards without hiring experienced and trained teachers.
What are your views on charter schools? What are your views on virtual/online schools?
Charters should be disallowed – virtual/online schools are acceptable in approved extreme circumstances (health, safety, etc)
Do you support state-funded public pre-K education?
No.
Does class size matter? Explain.
Lower student-teacher rations should be maintained. Allows more individual contact.
Do you think there is a teacher shortage? If so, what would you do to correct the situation?
Work with union to see what it takes to retain quality educated teachers.
Kathy Zoucha, Candidate for State Representative, District 85What is your vision for the future of education in Indiana?
As an educator, my vision for the future of education in Indiana looks nothing like the current education system where non educators--who lack expertise in the subject---enact laws regarding education that harm our children. We need to reinstate the hundreds of millions of dollars dropped from the education budget during the Daniels administration. We must follow research regarding best education practices. Indiana needs a fully funded statewide pre-K program. Kindergarteners need to learn social skills and positive play. ISTEP testing must disappear and damaging high-stakes testing must be abolished. Formative and summative testing that is not subjective (like ISTEP) should replace the flawed test. And any test approved should be totally transparent instead of treated like a CIA top-secret document.
How should we be using tests in our schools?
Modern research reveals the top indicator for a child’s success in standardized testing is not the school, district, or teacher, but rather, the socioeconomic status of the child’s parents. Many of our current legislators refuse to accept this research and insist “teachers are just making excuses.” Tests do have a place in our education system, but formative tests assist educators in understanding what we need to teach our children. Summative tests should not be subjective and should not trick children.
Do we need more or less testing?
Last year, our school district listed a 100 + day window for various testing. We need less testing and more learning. That’s my campaign slogan. I live the over testing every single day. It harms our children and is ruining their education. The only way we will ever be able to correct this misguided mess is to bring the love of learning back to the classroom. Also, let’s get real about what we’re expecting out of children who qualify for Special Ed and ELL. It takes a person 7 to 10 years to learn a new language, but in Indiana our ELL students are expected to accomplish this feat in only one year. That’s when our ELL students are required to take the ISTEP test and it counts!
Should tests be used for grade retention (IREAD-3)?
Testing should never be used for grade retention because children learn at a different pace. I’ve seen children who failed IREAD3 yet were above grade level in math. If Albert Einstein had taken IREAD3, he would have failed it. As a Special Ed teacher, I’ve seen my students jump two reading grade levels because their brains finally became capable of decoding words.
Indiana currently funds vouchers for private and parochial schools and provides funding for charter schools.
What is your opinion of the impact this has on traditional public schools?
The funding for both voucher and charter schools are taken out of the public school funds. Our legislators do not have a separate account for vouchers, charter and public schools. All of the money comes out of the public school fund. State funding for public schools continues to shrink. As a result, public school class sizes have increased, and interventions have decreased. The impact is hurtful to both students and teachers. The students are not receiving the interventions at-risk children require, and the teachers are teaching in classrooms that are bulging at the seams with students. I trip over my students every day. I see the negative impact every day.
Do you agree charter and voucher-accepting schools should be held to the same standards as traditional public schools?
For the sake of all of our children, all schools should be held to the same standard. Any school that accepts state funds should be required to accept all students and provide special education students with the accommodations and support they receive in the traditional public schools. No parent of a special ed child should be forced to sign off on their child’s Individual Education Plan and have that IEP shifted to an Individual Service Plan. The services provided by a traditional public school must be provided by the charter and private schools.
Do you agree any school receiving state money should hold board meetings open to the public?
Any school receiving state money should hold open board meetings because these schools are using taxpayer funds. Taxpayers must be able to follow their own money.
Do you support the use of test scores in teacher evaluations and/or in assigning school letter grades?
No, I do not support the use of test scores in teacher evaluation or assigning school letter grades.
Do you support merit pay for teachers? If so, should it be based on student test scores?
I do not support merit pay for teachers because it will be subjective. No pay increases should ever be based on student test scores.
What is your understanding of REPA III?
I am not thrilled with the Career Specialist permit. What do you think ought to be the minimum level of training and qualifications for teachers? I had to complete the Transition to Teaching Exceptional Students program in order to obtain my Special Ed license. I took over 20 hours of graduate level classes. The program, through Indiana Wesleyan was intense, and it prepared me well for my new career as a Special Ed teacher. This is the type of program I support.
What are your views on charter schools? What are your views on virtual/online schools?
Some states have successful, effective charter schools. Unfortunately for the children of Indiana, Indiana is not one of those states. In Fort Wayne, The Imagine Schools would dump underperforming children and children with behavioral issues. This dump regularly occurred in January. All of the data and research I’ve read on virtual schools conclude the schools are unsuccessful at teaching out children. The NCAA has gone so far as to refuse to accept high school credits from some of these schools.
Do you support state-funded public pre-K education?
Absolutely! It will cost Indiana less than 1.8 percent of our annual budget to fully fund pre-K education in our state.
Does class size matter? Explain.
I have witnessed first-hand that class size matters, especially in integrated classes. It’s more difficult to control a larger class, and it’s more difficult to differentiate instruction to a larger class.
Do you think there is a teacher shortage? If so, what would you do to correct the situation?
I know Indiana has a teacher shortage. Our school district uses substitute teachers to fill in the gap, and we don’t have enough substitutes to fill in for absent teachers.
Have you visited any public schools within the last year?
I work as a Special Ed teacher with FWCS at Kekionga Middle School, one of the toughest schools in this area. My school has 80 percent Title I students, so 8 out of 10 of my students qualify for Title I services. My school has 25 percent Special Ed and 25 percent ELL students. In other words, 50 percent of our students qualify for additional services. Quite honestly, I have no idea how anyone who has never taught can fully understand the challenges of teaching in Indiana today.
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