ISTA asks for legislative fix to delayed teacher raises
09/09/2015

 

At a recent interim study committee on education, ISTA asked for a legislative fix to the current delay in ISTEP scores which is now affecting teachers’ pay. Sen. Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn), who chairs the committee, advised that legislators are open to passing legislation to ensure teachers get the raises and bonuses the legislature intended for them to receive.

 

Last session, the General Assembly enacted a school funding formula that enabled some schools to offer salary raises effective for the 2015 – 2016 school year. However, because Indiana law also links the raises to teacher evaluations (which are in part based on student test scores), the delay in spring 2015 test results is causing local school systems to delay paying out the increases until possibly next spring.

 

This year’s state performance grants are also in jeopardy because of the failure of the testing company to provide the scores.

 

ISTA wants a legislative fix on the General Assembly’s Organization Day in November, or sooner, if possible.