INDIANAPOLIS — In November, about 15,00 teachers rallied at the Indiana Statehouse for higher pay and other requests from state lawmakers.
On Monday, they were back, but in smaller numbers. Some of the same teachers again rallied at the Statehouse for an update on how the legislature has followed up on some of their demands.
The Indiana Coalition for Public Education, which hosted the rally, gave lawmakers credit for passing a few education-related bills this session, but said there’s more work to be done.
For example, Gov. Eric Holcomb has already signed a bill to hold schools harmless for recent low I-LEARN scores. Another bill to make teachers’ 15-hour externship requirement unanimously passed the House and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate.
But all efforts to raise teacher pay this year failed in the legislative session.
During Monday’s rally, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick pressed the need for more funding for public schools.
“If I'm in meetings I hear often, ‘This is not about funding,’” she said. “And I say, 'Try to run a school without money. Try to serve students without money. Try to pay educators without money.’”
With less than a month until the session ends, teachers will try to make one last push to get their voices heard to state lawmakers.
