SB 0547/HB 1480: Selection of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Provides that the Superintendent for Public Instruction be appointed by the governor. Also removes the residency and term limits currently imposed by that position. Currently the Superintendent of Public Instruction is elected by the citizens of Indiana, and is not appointed by the governor. To compare, the U.S. Secretary of Education is appointed by the president, but is also confirmed by the Senate. It is debatable whether or not this position at the state level should be an elected one. However, if it is deemed that this position should be appointed by the governor, I think there should be some type of confirmation premise that should occur within one or both houses of the General Assembly. This bill hasn't gotten a lot of visible press, but I still think will be very interesting to pay attention to.
HB 1403: English Immersion Programs: Requires the DOE to establish pilot programs targeting at risk children in preschool and elementary settings in schools where non-English speakers are present. Specifically, these programs should target immersing non-English speakers with the English language.
HB 1152: Concussions and Head Injuries in Student Athletes: Requires that the DOE consult with relevant organizations to compose a series of informational forms that athletic coaches must provide to parents and athletes. Parents and athletes must sign these informational forms before the athlete will be allowed to participate in athletic activities. Athletes suspected of incurring a head injury must be immediately removed from play and must be cleared by a qualified physician prior to readmission into any athletic event. Such physicians who volunteer to perform these evaluations for an athletic team are also cleared of any civil liability that could result from omissions from these evaluations, provided their actions are not grossly negligent.
SB 0317: Kindergarten: Requires that children enroll in school no later than the fall term in which they turn six years of age (the current law requires that children enroll no later than seven). Requires that a student must be five years old by 9/1/12 for the 2012-13 school year, 10/1/13 for the 2013-14 school year, or 11/1 for all subsequent years in order to enroll in school for that term. Also removes provisions allowing school superintendents to make judgments regarding whether or not children first enrolling in school should enter kindergarten or first grade.
HB 1305: Farm to School Plan: Requires the DOE to develop a plan to bring locally-produced foods into the schools for breakfast, lunch, and snack programs. This is interesting because child obesity is becoming a prevalent issue among policy leaders today, and bringing local foods into schools both provides students with healthier foods and brings revenue to local farmers and businesses.
HB 1566: School Absenteeism and Dropouts: Requires school districts to identify factors causing absenteeism and create plans to reduce absenteeism in their schools. Urges the education roundtable to spur reforms in early childhood education programs. Requires school districts to share data regarding schools with high absenteeism rates with the DOE and the Family and Social Services Administration. Allows school districts to collaborate with public and private organizations to provide professional development opportunities to teachers in order to help them understand factors that cause absenteeism. Also allows districts to contract with non-profit organizations to start school-based clinics from which students can benefit.
HB 1479: School Performance and Turnaround Academies: Schools remaining in the two lowest performing categories for a fifth year are to become turnaround academies. The State Board of Education holds jurisdiction to set goals for these academies. These academies can be operated by a special management team. If an academy meets its assigned goals, it can become an independent school corporation. See proposed SB 0496/HB 1250 for more information on performance categories that it is proposed that schools be required to meet.
No comments:
Post a Comment