Statewide Red for Ed Day of Action to see national backing at rally next week
The national president of the American Federation of Teachers will join teachers, school administrators and legislators next week as public education advocates plan a statewide rally for public education.
The day, dubbed the Red for Ed Day of Action, will kick off with a morning rally Tuesday at the Indiana Statehouse where legislators are preparing for the start of the next legislative session.
AFT National President Randi Weingarten will join AFT Indiana President GlenEva Dunham, of Gary, and several state Democrats in outlining the union's legislative priorities for the coming session, including discussion of teacher pay, educators' professional growth point requirements and a fix to the Indiana's new ILEARN exam, which saw low performance statewide in the test's first administration this spring.
"This is member-driven, grassroots, by younger members who haven't had a raise since 2012, but, it's not just about the money, it's working conditions," said Dunham, who called changes in standardized testing "the straw that broke the camel's back."
House and Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle have called for "hold harmless" legislation, mitigating the effects of low ILEARN scores on teacher performance evaluations and school accountability, to be brought early in the session.
The Indiana State Board of Education has resolved that it will not assign school accountability grades for the 2018-19 school year until such measures have been passed.
Dozens of Indiana school districts have announced plans to close Nov. 19, allowing teachers and staff to participate in rallies across the state.
50 school corporations have CLOSED in Indiana for November 19th #RED4ED #FUNDOURFUTURE events as of 9AM today
In Northwest Indiana, the School City of East Chicago, the School City of Hammond and Lake Ridge Schools will participate in eLearning Days. Michigan City Area Schools, M.S.D. CONTINUE READING: Statewide Red for Ed Day of Action to see national backing at rally next week | News | mdjonline.com
Is your community participating in the planned Red for Ed Action Day? Let Times education reporter Carley Lanich know at carley.lanich@nwi.com.
