Indiana Coalition for Public Education - State Legislative Report Card 2018
Does Your Legislator Support Public Education?
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Our state organization, the Indiana Coalition for Public Education, issues a legislative report card in election years. Their report card can be found here. This ICPE Report Card rates incumbents who filed for reelection in 2018, grading them based on their votes on six bills that either damaged public schools by:
or helped public schools by promoting support for public education. In all, ICPE issued grades to 109 legislators. The majority were Ds. |
“Although legislators might claim it’s unfair to assign letter grades based on a small portion of what they do,” said Vic Smith of ICPE, “that is exactly what Indiana does to schools across the state when it bases schools’ letter grades largely on one standardized test. Many politicians claim to support public education, but the proof is in their votes.” |
When you weaken public schools by diverting funding away from them, you undermine a key institution in our society—one that stands as the bedrock of democracy and the cornerstone of local communities.
“Although legislators might claim it’s unfair to assign letter grades based on a small portion of what they do,” said Vic Smith of ICPE, “that is exactly what Indiana does to schools across the state when it bases schools’ letter grades largely on one standardized test. Many politicians claim to support public education, but the proof is in their votes.”
The complete list can be found here for 2018 grades.
“Although legislators might claim it’s unfair to assign letter grades based on a small portion of what they do,” said Vic Smith of ICPE, “that is exactly what Indiana does to schools across the state when it bases schools’ letter grades largely on one standardized test. Many politicians claim to support public education, but the proof is in their votes.”
The complete list can be found here for 2018 grades.
Indiana Coalition for Public Education is a bipartisan nonprofit organization that supports public schools.
The Grades
District/Senator/Party .... Grade
1 Sen. Frank Mrvan, Jr-D .... A
4 Sen. Karen Tallian-D .... A
6 Sen. Rick Niemeyer-R .... D
14 Sen. Dennis Kruse-R .... C
15 Sen. Liz Brown-R .... D
17 Sen. Andy Zay-R .... D
19 Sen. Travis Holdman-R .... D
21 Sen. James Buck-R .... D
22 Sen. Ronnie Alting-R .... B
23 Sen. Phil Boots-R .... D
25 Sen. Timothy Lanane-D .... A
27 Sen. Jeff Raatz-R .... D
29 Sen. Mike Delph-R .... D
31 Sen. Jim Merritt-R .... D
38 Sen. Jon Ford-R .... C
39 Sen. Eric Bassler-R .... D
41 Sen. Greg Walker-R .... D
43 Sen. Chip Perfect-R .... D
46 Sen. Ron Grooms-R .... C
47 Sen. Erin Houchin-R .... D
48 Sen. Mark Messmer-R .... D
49 Sen. Jim Tomes-R .... A
1 Sen. Frank Mrvan, Jr-D .... A
4 Sen. Karen Tallian-D .... A
6 Sen. Rick Niemeyer-R .... D
14 Sen. Dennis Kruse-R .... C
15 Sen. Liz Brown-R .... D
17 Sen. Andy Zay-R .... D
19 Sen. Travis Holdman-R .... D
21 Sen. James Buck-R .... D
22 Sen. Ronnie Alting-R .... B
23 Sen. Phil Boots-R .... D
25 Sen. Timothy Lanane-D .... A
27 Sen. Jeff Raatz-R .... D
29 Sen. Mike Delph-R .... D
31 Sen. Jim Merritt-R .... D
38 Sen. Jon Ford-R .... C
39 Sen. Eric Bassler-R .... D
41 Sen. Greg Walker-R .... D
43 Sen. Chip Perfect-R .... D
46 Sen. Ron Grooms-R .... C
47 Sen. Erin Houchin-R .... D
48 Sen. Mark Messmer-R .... D
49 Sen. Jim Tomes-R .... A
District/Representative/Party .... Grade
2 Rep. Earl Harris-D .... A
4 Rep. Ed Soliday-R .... D
5 Rep. Dale DeVon-R .... D
6 Rep. B. Patrick Bauer-D .... A
7 Rep. Joe Taylor-D .... A
8 Rep. Ryan Dvorak-D .... A
10 Rep. Charles Moseley-D .... A
11 Rep. Michael J. Aylesworth-R .... D
12 Rep. Mara Candeleria Reardon-D .... A
13 Rep. Sharon Negele-R .... D
14 Rep. Vernon G. Smith-D .... A
15 Rep. Hal Slager-R .... D
16 Rep. Douglas L. Gutwein-R .... D
17 Rep. Jack Jordan-R .... D
18 Rep. David A. Wolkins-R .... D
19 Rep. Julie Olthoff-R .... D
20 Rep. Jim Pressel-R .... C
21 Rep. Timothy Wesco-R .... D
22 Rep. Curt Nisly-R .... B
24 Rep. Donna Schaibley-R .... D
25 Rep. Donald J. Lehe-R .... D
26 Rep. Sally Siegrist-R .... C
27 Rep. Sheila Klinker-D .... A
28 Rep. Jeffrey A. Thompson-R .... D
30 Rep. Mike Karickhoff-R .... D
31 Rep. Kevin A. Mahan-R .... D
32 Rep. Anthony J. Cook-R .... D
34 Rep. Sue E. Errington-D .... A
35 Rep. Melanie Wright-D .... A
36 Rep. Terri Jo Austin-D .... A
37 Rep. Todd Huston-R .... D
38 Rep. Heath VanNatter-R .... D
39 Rep. Jerry Torr-R .... D
40 Rep. Gregory E. Steuerwald-R .... D
41 Rep. Tim Brown-R .... D
42 Rep. Alan Morrison-R .... D
45 Rep. Bruce Borders-R .... D
46 Rep. Bob Heaton-R .... D
47 Rep. John Young-R .... D
48 Rep. Doug Miller-R .... D
50 Rep. Daniel J. Leonard-R .... D
51 Rep. Dennis J. Zent-R .... D
52 Rep. Ben Smaltz-R .... D
53 Rep. Robert W. Cherry-R .... D
54 Rep. Thomas E. Saunders-R .... B
55 Rep. Cindy Meyer Ziemke-R .... D
57 Rep. Sean R. Eberhart-R .... D
58 Rep. Woody Burton-R .... D
60 Rep. Peggy Mayfield-R .... D
61 Rep. Matt Pierce-D .... A
62 Rep. Jeff Ellington-R .... D
63 Rep. Shane Lindauer-R .... I
65 Rep. Chris May-R .... D
66 Rep. Terry Goodin-D .... A
67 Rep. Randy Frye-R .... D
68 Rep. Randy Lyness-R .... D
69 Rep. Jim Lucas-R .... D
70 Rep. Karen Engleman-R .... D
72 Rep. Edward D. Clere-R .... D
73 Rep. Steven Davisson-R .... I
74 Rep. Steve Bartels-R .... I
75 Rep. Ron Bacon-R .... D
76 Rep. Wendy McNamara-R .... D
77 Rep. Ryan Hatfield-D .... A
78 Rep. Holli Sullivan-R .... D
79 Rep. Matthew S. Lehman-R .... D
80 Rep. Phil GiaQuinta-D .... A
81 Rep. Martin Carbaugh-R .... D
82 Rep. David Abbott-R .... I
83 Rep. Christopher N. Judy-R .... C
84 Rep. Bob Morris-R .... D
85 Rep. Dave Heine-R .... D
86 Rep. Edward O. Delaney-D .... A
87 Rep. Carey Hamilton-D .... A
88 Rep. Brian C. Bosma-R .... D
89 Rep. Cindy Meyer Kirchhofer-R .... D
90 Rep. Mike Speedy-R .... D
91 Rep. Robert W. Behning-R .... D
92 Rep. Karlee D. Macer-D .... A
93 Rep. David N. Frizzell-R .... D
94 Rep. Cherrish S. Pryor-D .... A
95 Rep. John L. Bartlett-D .... A
96 Rep. Gregory A. Porter-D .... A
97 Rep. Justin Moed-D .... A
98 Rep. Robin Shackleford-D .... A
99 Rep. Vanessa J. Summers-D .... A
100 Rep. Dan Forestal-D .... A
2 Rep. Earl Harris-D .... A
4 Rep. Ed Soliday-R .... D
5 Rep. Dale DeVon-R .... D
6 Rep. B. Patrick Bauer-D .... A
7 Rep. Joe Taylor-D .... A
8 Rep. Ryan Dvorak-D .... A
10 Rep. Charles Moseley-D .... A
11 Rep. Michael J. Aylesworth-R .... D
12 Rep. Mara Candeleria Reardon-D .... A
13 Rep. Sharon Negele-R .... D
14 Rep. Vernon G. Smith-D .... A
15 Rep. Hal Slager-R .... D
16 Rep. Douglas L. Gutwein-R .... D
17 Rep. Jack Jordan-R .... D
18 Rep. David A. Wolkins-R .... D
19 Rep. Julie Olthoff-R .... D
20 Rep. Jim Pressel-R .... C
21 Rep. Timothy Wesco-R .... D
22 Rep. Curt Nisly-R .... B
24 Rep. Donna Schaibley-R .... D
25 Rep. Donald J. Lehe-R .... D
26 Rep. Sally Siegrist-R .... C
27 Rep. Sheila Klinker-D .... A
28 Rep. Jeffrey A. Thompson-R .... D
30 Rep. Mike Karickhoff-R .... D
31 Rep. Kevin A. Mahan-R .... D
32 Rep. Anthony J. Cook-R .... D
34 Rep. Sue E. Errington-D .... A
35 Rep. Melanie Wright-D .... A
36 Rep. Terri Jo Austin-D .... A
37 Rep. Todd Huston-R .... D
38 Rep. Heath VanNatter-R .... D
39 Rep. Jerry Torr-R .... D
40 Rep. Gregory E. Steuerwald-R .... D
41 Rep. Tim Brown-R .... D
42 Rep. Alan Morrison-R .... D
45 Rep. Bruce Borders-R .... D
46 Rep. Bob Heaton-R .... D
47 Rep. John Young-R .... D
48 Rep. Doug Miller-R .... D
50 Rep. Daniel J. Leonard-R .... D
51 Rep. Dennis J. Zent-R .... D
52 Rep. Ben Smaltz-R .... D
53 Rep. Robert W. Cherry-R .... D
54 Rep. Thomas E. Saunders-R .... B
55 Rep. Cindy Meyer Ziemke-R .... D
57 Rep. Sean R. Eberhart-R .... D
58 Rep. Woody Burton-R .... D
60 Rep. Peggy Mayfield-R .... D
61 Rep. Matt Pierce-D .... A
62 Rep. Jeff Ellington-R .... D
63 Rep. Shane Lindauer-R .... I
65 Rep. Chris May-R .... D
66 Rep. Terry Goodin-D .... A
67 Rep. Randy Frye-R .... D
68 Rep. Randy Lyness-R .... D
69 Rep. Jim Lucas-R .... D
70 Rep. Karen Engleman-R .... D
72 Rep. Edward D. Clere-R .... D
73 Rep. Steven Davisson-R .... I
74 Rep. Steve Bartels-R .... I
75 Rep. Ron Bacon-R .... D
76 Rep. Wendy McNamara-R .... D
77 Rep. Ryan Hatfield-D .... A
78 Rep. Holli Sullivan-R .... D
79 Rep. Matthew S. Lehman-R .... D
80 Rep. Phil GiaQuinta-D .... A
81 Rep. Martin Carbaugh-R .... D
82 Rep. David Abbott-R .... I
83 Rep. Christopher N. Judy-R .... C
84 Rep. Bob Morris-R .... D
85 Rep. Dave Heine-R .... D
86 Rep. Edward O. Delaney-D .... A
87 Rep. Carey Hamilton-D .... A
88 Rep. Brian C. Bosma-R .... D
89 Rep. Cindy Meyer Kirchhofer-R .... D
90 Rep. Mike Speedy-R .... D
91 Rep. Robert W. Behning-R .... D
92 Rep. Karlee D. Macer-D .... A
93 Rep. David N. Frizzell-R .... D
94 Rep. Cherrish S. Pryor-D .... A
95 Rep. John L. Bartlett-D .... A
96 Rep. Gregory A. Porter-D .... A
97 Rep. Justin Moed-D .... A
98 Rep. Robin Shackleford-D .... A
99 Rep. Vanessa J. Summers-D .... A
100 Rep. Dan Forestal-D .... A
The Six Bills Used for the Report Card
Some good news for public education...
SB 30 (2017) - But Where Did They Go?
This bill provided transparency by requiring the Indiana Department of Education to report to public school corporations the names of the schools that have enrolled voucher students who live in the school district.
“Yes” vote = 1 point.
HB 1001 (2018) - More Students, More Money
This bill provided supplemental funding support to all schools due to an increase in public school enrollment, which was beyond the increase estimated in the 2017 budget.
“Yes” vote = 1 point.
But also a LOT of bad news.
HB 1001 (2017) - Isn't the Great Recession Over?
This budget bill funded K-12 schools with austerity-level increases of only 1.6% in 2018 and 1.7% in 2019—less than inflation and less than the 2.3% increases in the 2015 budget. Meanwhile, the bill gave a 47% increase in funding for School Scholarship Tax Credits, which fund tuition scholarships for private schools and will now cost taxpayers $26.5 million over two years. Vouchers for private schools also received a 14.6% increase for 2018-19. They can total $156.6 million the first year and $167.4 million the second year.
“No” vote = 1 point.
HB 1005 (2017) - Don't Trust the Voters!
This bill abolished the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, elected by Indiana voters since 1851. Instead, the Governor will appoint a Secretary of Education starting January 10, 2025. Worse, the controversial law does not even require the occupant of the new Secretary of Education position to have K-12 experience.
“No” vote = 1 point.
HB 1384 (2017) - Let’s Pretend You Are Accredited Already
This bill allowed new private schools to receive vouchers in the first year of operation without waiting a year to get accreditation, as they were required to do before the new law.
“No” vote = 1 point.
HB 1315 (2018) Warning: Entering The Twilight Zone
The most controversial bill in the short session was passed hastily in a one-day special session and toppled three previously steadfast pillars of public education:
BEFORE: Local voters in Indiana elected a school district’s governing board from candidates who were residents of the district.
NOW: Muncie Community Schools’ locally-elected school board has been dissolved and relegated to an “advisory board.” Ball State University now appoints all members of a new governing board. Three of these seven new school board seats don’t even need to be reserved for residents of Muncie. Gary Community Schools’ governing school board has also been converted into an appointed “advisory board”—that cannot hold a public meeting more than once every three months.
BEFORE: Every school district was required to follow all of Indiana’s state education laws.
NOW: Muncie is subject to a special list of only 29 state laws. This list does NOT include laws regarding bullying prevention, child abuse prevention, or collective bargaining.
BEFORE: The state issues a letter grade to every school in every public school district.
NOW: Muncie Community Schools win a free pass to ignore the school letter grade law.
“No” vote = 1 point.
SB 30 (2017) - But Where Did They Go?
This bill provided transparency by requiring the Indiana Department of Education to report to public school corporations the names of the schools that have enrolled voucher students who live in the school district.
“Yes” vote = 1 point.
HB 1001 (2018) - More Students, More Money
This bill provided supplemental funding support to all schools due to an increase in public school enrollment, which was beyond the increase estimated in the 2017 budget.
“Yes” vote = 1 point.
But also a LOT of bad news.
HB 1001 (2017) - Isn't the Great Recession Over?
This budget bill funded K-12 schools with austerity-level increases of only 1.6% in 2018 and 1.7% in 2019—less than inflation and less than the 2.3% increases in the 2015 budget. Meanwhile, the bill gave a 47% increase in funding for School Scholarship Tax Credits, which fund tuition scholarships for private schools and will now cost taxpayers $26.5 million over two years. Vouchers for private schools also received a 14.6% increase for 2018-19. They can total $156.6 million the first year and $167.4 million the second year.
“No” vote = 1 point.
HB 1005 (2017) - Don't Trust the Voters!
This bill abolished the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, elected by Indiana voters since 1851. Instead, the Governor will appoint a Secretary of Education starting January 10, 2025. Worse, the controversial law does not even require the occupant of the new Secretary of Education position to have K-12 experience.
“No” vote = 1 point.
HB 1384 (2017) - Let’s Pretend You Are Accredited Already
This bill allowed new private schools to receive vouchers in the first year of operation without waiting a year to get accreditation, as they were required to do before the new law.
“No” vote = 1 point.
HB 1315 (2018) Warning: Entering The Twilight Zone
The most controversial bill in the short session was passed hastily in a one-day special session and toppled three previously steadfast pillars of public education:
BEFORE: Local voters in Indiana elected a school district’s governing board from candidates who were residents of the district.
NOW: Muncie Community Schools’ locally-elected school board has been dissolved and relegated to an “advisory board.” Ball State University now appoints all members of a new governing board. Three of these seven new school board seats don’t even need to be reserved for residents of Muncie. Gary Community Schools’ governing school board has also been converted into an appointed “advisory board”—that cannot hold a public meeting more than once every three months.
BEFORE: Every school district was required to follow all of Indiana’s state education laws.
NOW: Muncie is subject to a special list of only 29 state laws. This list does NOT include laws regarding bullying prevention, child abuse prevention, or collective bargaining.
BEFORE: The state issues a letter grade to every school in every public school district.
NOW: Muncie Community Schools win a free pass to ignore the school letter grade law.
“No” vote = 1 point.
Need more? Access the 2016 Report Card here.
Printables
State-Level Report Card |
Monroe County Report Card |
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