It was the inventors of democracy — the ancient Greeks — who first suggested that the foundation of society is the education of its youth. I believe the family, the church and the school all play a role, and I have centered my private and public life around promoting all three.

In this newsletter I would like to highlight some of the ways I have prioritized building strong schools. 

First, I have advocated for reforms to teacher compensation. I co-authored a new law that raises the average statewide teacher salary — which is currently $63,424 — and requires that it be no less $45,000.

But teacher pay, like all occupations, should be driven by market forces. That's why I passed another law allowing school leaders to give their most valued teachers a raise without having to first get permission from the teacher's union.

Over the last two budget cycles, the General Assembly increased tuition support by $2.4 billion, and my legislation is helping make sure those dollars are used effectively.

Second, I passed a law making it easier to license qualified people to work in schools. Too many kids are taught by individuals hired on an emergency basis without the necessary training or credentials. My bill creates a new, low-cost, expedited path for anyone with a STEM degree to receive the additional training they need to succeed in the classroom and compete for education jobs.  

Third, I supported a law requiring educators who teach reading to be trained in the Science of Reading. This is an evidence-based approach that emphasizes phonics and is now the required state curriculum for all. By pairing this shift with more accountability for results, we are turning around our schools and achieving historic improvements.

Indiana's reading scores on the nation's report card have risen dramatically: fourth graders improved from 19th to 6th in the nation, and eighth graders improved from 17th to 6th in the nation.

Our third graders also achieved a nearly 5% increase in literacy rates—the largest gain in reading proficiency since launching the IREAD test in 2013. This amounts to an additional 6,000 students who are now proficient in foundational reading skills.

Thanks to the hard work of our schools, teachers, parents and state leaders, these accomplishments are only the beginning.

Provide Your Feedback on the New School Accountability Model

I recently sponsored a new law that requires the Indiana State Board of Education to establish a new grading scale for Hoosier schools. This new grading scale is meant to provide a review of a school’s performance so parents can make informed decisions about where they want to send their children to school.

The second draft of this new grading scale is available now, and the SBOE is asking for public comments through Nov. 17.

Staying Safe Online

During October, we recognize Cybersecurity Awareness Month to help educate Hoosiers about the importance of cybersecurity in their everyday lives.

The Indiana Executive Council on Cybersecurity offers a wide variety of resources to help households, parents, schools, local governments, business and organizations improve their cybersecurity.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is awarding 100 rural and volunteer fire departments more than $450,000, including departments in Senate District 23.

This funding is awarded by the DNR to help rural and volunteer fire departments purchase equipment and gear to help combat wildland fires.

Local departments receiving funding include:

Bridgeton Volunteer Fire Department - $5,000 for safety equipment

J.U.G.A. Volunteer Fire Department - $5,000 for communications equipment

Rockville-Adams Township Fire and Rescue - $5,000 for wildland firefighting assistance

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