Lawmaker proposes bypassing collective bargaining to address teacher shortage
An Indiana lawmaker is proposing to drive more educators into Hoosier classrooms by allowing them to negotiate their own contract with schools rather than be subject to the collective bargaining contract negotiated by teacher unions.
State Sen. Pete Miller, an Avon Republican, said his proposed legislation aims to address concerns that the state is facing a shortage of licensed educators opting to work in the field.
The proposal would allow schools to hire high-demand teachers in science, math and special education through individual contracts and at a higher pay rate, Miller said. But the state’s largest teachers union quickly denounced Miller’s proposal Tuesday, saying it would weaken collective bargaining instead of addressing the shortage.
Miller argued he’s acting in the best interest of teachers.
“I want teachers to be paid everything they are worth,” Miller said. “You can’t legislate supply and demand. You can’t force professionals to make choices that are against their best interests. If we are only willing to pay a special education teacher less than market rate, then we shouldn’t be surprised that we have a shortage.”
The head of the Indiana State Teachers Association said collective bargaining agreements — a popular target of Republican-driven school reform efforts — ensure fairness.
"We are all about making certain kids have high-quality teachers, not just in shortage areas. We want every teacher to be respected and compensated fairly, and that can only happen when there is a check-and-balance system in place,” said Teresa Meredith, president of the teachers association.
In addition to its hiring provisions, Miller's proposal establishes a mentoring program for beginning teachers, where administrators would assess their performance and determine if they pass. It also speaks to ensuring educators who move in from out-of-state can teach in Indiana classrooms.
Miller’s proposal likely is one of several the General Assembly will consider to attract more educators to the field during the 2016 legislative session that begins Jan. 5. House Speaker Brian Bosma is advocating for the creation of a scholarship program where prospective teachers could receive a full ride at an Indiana college if they commit to teaching in the state for five years. A commission led by state schools chief Glenda Ritz is recommending the state permanently reduce the influence standardized test scores have on annual teacher evaluations.
Miller said his bill wouldn’t provide new funding to school districts to help cover the cost of offering higher salaries, which he acknowledged is a strategy for it to gain support this legislative session. The upcoming session is a non-budget year when lawmakers historically are hesitant to approve new spending.
Miller said instead of the state providing a set stipend to attract educators to STEM and special education fields, he wants local school districts to determine what the market demands.
On the mentoring program, new teachers would participate in a two-year residency where administrators would review their performance twice a school year. The administrator also can require the teacher to follow a growth plan to address deficiencies and could decide that a teacher didn’t pass the program. If a teacher fails, then the program could be extended for one year.
The proposal also addresses the notion that qualified teachers moving into the state shouldn’t face hurdles in getting a job, Miller said. Under the proposal, the Indiana Department of Education is required to grant an out-of-state teacher an Indiana license if that educator meets the requirements to receive the credential, according to preliminary language of the bill. Miller said if out-of-state teachers already have taken exams demonstrating expertise in a content area, then additional tests shouldn't be required.
Currently, an educator who has an out-of-state license and moves to Indiana receives a one-year permit, said Samantha Hart, a department spokeswoman. That permit covers educators while they complete minimum requirements for an Indiana license, such as passing the state's licensing exams, she said.
Justin Ohlemiller, executive director of Stand for Children Indiana, said he supports the proposal but wants lawmakers to add a teacher loan forgiveness program into the bill. He said the program would be designed to incentivize minority applicants wanting to teach in high-needs schools and subject areas where a shortage exists.
“We’ve had this debate on teacher shortage,” Ohlemiller said. “Some believe there’s a true shortage — others may not. We certainly have a need to attract the top-flight talent to the teaching profession as well as retain great teachers in our classrooms."
Call Star reporter Chelsea Schneider at (317) 444-6077. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyStarChelsea.