Blog - Indiana Coalition for Public Education

Blog & Statehouse Notes

ICPE’s All-Member Meeting: They’re Coming for Your School District

On Saturday August 20th we held our annual all-member meeting in Washington Township. It was a jam-packed agenda full of information to digest–some of which made many of us nauseous! We had around 50 people attend in person, and somewhere near 30 who were online via...

ICPE Annual Meeting – This Weekend!

What: ICPE Annual Meeting When: August 20, 2022 from 2pm - 4pm Where: H. Dean Evans Community and Education Center 8550 Woodfield Crossing Blvd. Indianapolis, IN 46240 (Note: the building is under construction, but open for use) OR, if you can't make it, you can also...

Joel Hand – Special Session Testimony on SB 3

Joel Hand's Testimony on SB 3 (Tax & Fiscal Matters) to Senate Appropriations Committee on July 26, 2022. Good afternoon, Chairman Mishler and members of the Committee. My name is Joel Hand and I represent the Indiana Coalition for Public Education, a grassroots...

The downsides of Education Scholarship Accounts for children with special needs

The downsides of Education Scholarship Accounts for children with special needs Yes, there is an additional option for Hoosier parents to choose and pay for special education services for their children. Starting July 1, the Indiana Education Scholarship Account (ESA)...

Public Schools Unite Us Yard Signs

The session has ended. Sine die! They tried to divide us. The Heritage Foundation, Koch Brothers money, ALEC, and other extremist organizations helped to fund this latest national effort couched as being anti- “CRT” (Critical Race Theory) or about “parent...

Vic’s Statehouse Notes #366

Dear Friends, House Bill 1134 now threatens to make teachers fear inviting guest speakers to their classroom. This is the damaging curriculum bill that educators, the PTA and community groups have denounced vigorously. Last Wednesday it got worse: it now threatens to...

Vic’s Statehouse Notes #365

Dear Friends, WTHR, Channel 13, the NBC affiliate in Indianapolis, reported that more than 200 people signed up to testify at the Wednesday February 16 hearing on the most contentious education bill this session, House Bill 1134. Senator Raatz, chair of the Senate...

Celebrate Public Schools Week 2022!

What you can do to celebrate Public Schools Week Feb. 21-25, 2022 Monday, February 21 -- Join us for ICPE’s Day of Action at the Statehouse. The program begins at 2 p.m. in the north atrium. Visit your legislators beforehand if possible, and write...

Public Schools Unite Us – ICPE Day of Action

In these divisive times we need you to come together for our public schools. We’re taking a slightly different approach to our Statehouse event this year. What hasn’t changed: It’s on Presidents Day, (Monday, Feb. 21), with the program beginning at 2 p.m. in the North...

Amended HB 1134 Analysis

Joel Hand’s analysis of HB 1134 with the proposed amendment as of Feb. 15, 2022 Overall, HB 1134 with the proposed amendment will remain a bad bill, but it is less bad than it was. What the amendment removes: The amendment strikes ALL of the House Engrossed version of...