INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A legislative study committee has endorsed a series of small steps that could help address Indiana’s ongoing teacher shortage.
Lawmakers serving on the committee signed off on 19 policy recommendations Monday, urging the full Legislature to consider budgeting more money for teacher pay, offering career training and expanding mentorship programs.
One recommendation spearheaded by Republicans calls for further study of switching teachers from a pension to a 401k-style retirement plan.
The committee also voted down a recommendation that schools and teachers not be penalized this year for low student scores on the ISTEP test, which determines teacher pay and school ranking.
Results from the 2015 ISTEP test have yet to be released following a series of missteps by the company that administered the test.