INDIANAPOLIS -- On Thursday, the Democratic ticket in Indiana's governor race, both of whom are previous educators, released their "common sense education plan," centering around the fight for a minimum base pay of $60,000 for teachers, expanding childcare in the state and creating an accountability platform for all schools.
Jennifer McCormick, the state's former superintendent for public instruction and Democratic gubernatorial candidate, and Terry Goodin, a former state representative who previously served as a superintendent and the Democratic lieutenant governor candidate, aim to increase school accountability and academic rigor through their plan.
In November's general election, McCormick and Goodin will face U.S Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Micah Beckwith on the Republican side, as well as Donald Rainwater and Tonya Hudson on the Libertarian side.
According to a news release from McCormick's campaign, McCormick's education plan prioritizes a system "that empowers Hoosier students to achieve their best results regardless of individual pursuits."
“As Indiana’s last elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, I understand the educational realities of today and the future: Hoosiers do not need politicians in their schools,” McCormick said in the release. “Respecting, empowering, and paying our educators to ensure academic freedom, holding all schools accountable, working with parents and our communities, and focusing on what is best for kids is prioritizing, not politicizing, education.”
In the plan, McCormick stressed the importance of all schools being held accountable to the same academic and fiscal standards as public schools, with more than $1.6 billion being sent to private schools through vouchers.
The plan includes five elements which the campaign believes would provide Hoosiers access to a "fully funded, world-class education," including:
- Strong beginnings
- Expand quality and affordable childcare to address the state's childcare deserts
- Continue expanding access to Pre-K education until the state has universal Pre-K
- Hold all schools accountable
- Establish a streamlined and transparent accountability platform to hold all schools to the same academic and fiscal standards
- Let teachers teach and pay them like professionals
- Fight for a minimum base salary of $60,000 for Indiana teachers and adjust veteran teacher salaries to "reflect their non-educator peers"
- Protect the freedom of teacher unions to bargain for wages and benefits
- Mandates placed on educators and school boards will be reviewed and eliminated if they are deemed "unnecessary or burdensome"
- Rigorous and comprehensive curriculum
- Calls for autonomy at the local level to design a curriculum that prepares students for the future they choose, including keeping politicians from deciding what books students can read
- Play an advanced role in career counseling by identifying and funding qualified personnel and obtain the resources to make robust and effective programs across the state
- Post-high school education attainment
- Calls for celebrating, protecting and better funding for higher education institutions and direct workforce development training programs
- Protect university tenure and respect the distinction of the skilled trades' apprenticeships and certifications
- Re-establish a statewide emphasis on attaining post-high school education
“It’s time to stop experimenting with education, let teachers teach, pay them well, and allow students to succeed,” McCormick said in the release. “Our goal is an education system with professional teachers and accountable schools that sets students up for success, whether that means going to college, entering the skilled workforce or joining the military.”
During a news conference Thursday afternoon surrounding the plan, McCormick said that both members of the Democratic ticket are "passionate about education." Both believe in the power of education for students and families, as well as the power it has on the community as a whole.
“We are passionate about education," McCormick said. "We understand the monies that are going into that. We understand the responsibilities that go with that.
“It really impacts everything that we do.”
Lawmakers often talk about the expense in regards of education, but McCormick and Goodin both stressed the importance of seeing education as more of an investment, something that they believe this plan does.
“Unfortunately, the other team, they look at education as a liability… but (we) look at it as an investment," Goodin said during the conference.
When asked about paying for the increased teacher salaries, McCormick echoed some of the comments she made during the unveiling of her property tax plan earlier this month. McCormick said it is about prioritization, looking at the state budget and what measures lawmakers are prioritizing.
McCormick also stressed that schools should have more autonomy to make decisions based on its local conditions, from its region of the state to its enrollment situation. McCormick said that while all schools should have certain high performance expectations, one size does not hit all.
Standards have to be high, McCormick said, but how the districts get there is "the beauty of that."
In regards to school funding, McCormick said that every school that takes public funds should be under the same scrutiny. She said that there has to be more accountability in the state to the flow of money and where it is going.
McCormick also said that there needs to be more accountability in the academic space as well as for safety standards. No matter what school an Indiana student attends, McCormick said it should be a "level playing field."
Approach to education from the other candidates
While the Braun/Beckwith campaign has not released its official education plan as of this story's publication, Braun has not been silent on some of his views on education.
According to his campaign website, Braun stressed the importance of school choice, stating that every family, regardless of income or zip code, should be able to choose what school to go to and "pursue a curriculum that prepares them for a career, college or the military."
Braun also said that his campaign believes that parents should be the "primary stakeholders and decision makers in their children's lives, education and upbringing," stressing that parents should have the right to "shield their children from divisive ideologies" and "have transparent access and meaningful input" on curriculum and other school materials.
During his campaign, Rainwater has also advocated for universal school choice, stating that Indiana can become more of a beacon for opportunity if this is implemented.
Mirroring Braun's comments, Rainwater said that parents should have the ultimate decision for their children's education and education funding should follow each student, regardless where they're enrolled.
In a response to McCormick's plan, Rainwater said in a statement on Thursday that he is "troubled" by her focus on "expanding government control" over educational opportunities.
"In sharp contrast to Dr. McCormick’s government-centric education policies, I am committed to expanding educational opportunities and empowering parents to make the best choices for their children," Rainwater said. "I believe that parents, not bureaucrats, know what’s best for their children. By maximizing school choice, we honor parental autonomy. If a school or educational platform meets a family’s needs, it should be a valid choice. Parents are the best judges of quality.
"Education funding should follow the child, not the institution. Regardless of school choice, every child deserves the same funding," Rainwater continued. "I reject conditional funding. Parents should receive education dollars without mandates or ideological strings.By championing universal school choice, Indiana becomes a beacon of educational freedom. Other states can learn from our model. When parents have real options, students thrive. Competition drives excellence."
According to the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office, Hoosiers are able to register to vote for the 2024 General Election through Oct. 7. For more information on how Indiana residents are able to register to vote, click here.