Ritz Announces Student-Centered Plan for Department, Including Statewide Pre-K Program
06/09/2016

At a press conference Tuesday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz released a report outlining her record as superintendent and her future policy plans for the department. The report also includes her goals for the 2017 legislative session.

Looking toward 2020, Ritz says her focus will be on implementing a statewide pre-K program, reducing testing, ensuring all educators are respected as professionals and raising the graduation rate to 91 percent.

"Moving forward, I am committed to building on the accomplishments of the last four years and working with all branches of state government to serve Indiana's students," said Ritz. "Our children, our communities and our state demand nothing less as we Imagine 2020."

The report highlights department accomplishments, emphasizing the success of its program to help struggling schools reverse poor performance. Upon taking office, Ritz created the Outreach Division of School Improvement. The turnaround program improved 103 D and F schools in its first year.

Importantly, the report centers on Ritz’s proposal for a high quality universal pre-K program available in every school corporation in the state. Ritz says no new funding is needed, rather the program could be funded by using a public-private coalition, leveraging federal dollars, reverting state allocations and eliminating wasteful spending in the state’s budget.

Ritz is expected to release further detailed plans, including a proposed school funding formula that more fairly and adequately funds all public schools.

The full Imagine 2020 report can be found on the IDOE website.