NOBLESVILLE — Teachers in Indiana are getting ready to go "Red for Ed." They'll be rallying at the Statehouse on Nov. 19 for changes to education, changes only lawmakers can make happen.
Indiana State Teachers Association chose Nov. 19 because that's when lawmakers will be back to get ready for the next legislative session.
Ben Yoder, an orchestra director at Hamilton Southeastern Schools, says the things they want addressed will hopefully, fix the teacher shortage we have in the state and keep teachers from leaving to go to other places to teach.
PREVIOUS | Indianapolis Public Schools cancel classes for 'Red for Ed Action Day'
Below are the four things they want from the legislators.
- Raise state teacher pay average to $60,000
- Don't punish schools, students, and teachers based on iLearn Scores
- Repeal 15 hour externship requirement for teacher license renewal
- Stop post-graduation status as a way to grade schools
"We are not interested in wreaking havoc on this state," Yoder said. "We are interested in making sure our legislators and our communities know how important our schools are and our kids. That's what we're trying to do. There will be further action if these things aren't dealt with."
Many school districts across the state are making Nov. 19 a professional development day, saying they're in full support of what the teachers are doing.
In the last legislative session, the GOP controlled legislature approved a 2.5 percent base school funding raiseeach year, for the next two years. ISTA says they'll continue to push for more.
