For The Republic
Three candidates are running for Indiana governor and a chance to shape education policy in the state — Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, Democrat Jennifer McCormick, and Libertarian Donald Rainwater.
Their views differ significantly, particularly on questions of education funding that are likely to take center stage when the next legislative session starts in January.
While Braun has indicated support for universal access to private school vouchers, Rainwater, a software engineer, supports universal ESAs, which would give families state funding for the classes and activities of their choosing, not just private school tuition.
Meanwhile, McCormick, the former superintendent of public instruction, has pointed out that choice funding has siphoned money from public schools, which enroll 90% of Hoosier students.
We asked the three candidates for Indiana governor to answer seven questions about their plans for education, including how they would tackle absenteeism and improve teacher retention and recruitment.
Rainwater and McCormick answered our questions, while Braun’s campaign provided a link to his education platform in response. Where relevant, Chalkbeat included points from his website that answered our questions.
Early voting is underway and sites can be found here.
Q: Participation in Indiana’s three voucher tracks has grown as restrictions have been loosened, but most Indiana students still attend public schools. Meanwhile, some state leaders would like to merge the three tracks into a single universal ESA program. How would you balance these interests in the state budget? What is your vision for the future of the school choice landscape?
Rainwater: I believe that Indiana should maximize the options for each and every child. I also believe that the future of public schools in Indiana must include a thorough set of reforms that will shift the oversight of education back to the local community, parents, teachers, and school boards and away from centralized regulatory controls at the state and federal levels. I fully support universal ESA and the decentralization of public education.
McCormick: I believe every Hoosier student deserves access to a high-quality education, and that starts with holding all schools accountable, regardless of whether they are public or private. A world-class education requires adequate funding. Indiana’s education system is underfunded, leading to inadequate educational opportunities that inhibit future success. Indiana ranks 37th in per pupil spending when compared to other states and falls behind our neighboring states. Compounding this issue is the expansion of the state’s school voucher program that funnels money away from our widely supported public schools to private schools with little oversight. These privatization efforts have not demonstrated thepositive impact promised yet continue to be supported by GOP policymakers. While 90% of our students attending public schools, Indiana has sent over $1.6 billion away from public schools and to private schools in the form of vouchers since 2011. My commonsense plan doesn’t eliminate choice, but it makes sure that schools receiving public tax dollars meet the same standards for transparency, fiscal responsibility, and academic rigor. As governor, I will call for a school funding formula that provides a more adequate and equitable education for all students. I will also work to pause the expansion of school privatization efforts and require fiscal and academic accountability and transparency for all Indiana schools. I will fight for a school system that works for every student, not just the wealthiest, and will ensure public education is fully funded and supported.
Braun: Expand school choice programs, reform the Choice Scholarship Program, and double the Education Scholarship Account Program for families with special needs.
Q: Do you support the pathway model outlined by Indiana’s new proposed high school diplomas? Why or why not? How does Indiana ensure that each student has full access to advanced curriculum, career training, and postsecondary opportunities?
Rainwater: First, it is the responsibility of the child in collaboration with their parents and teachers to determine the best educational pathway for each unique child. The current one-size-fits-all public education approach does not provide successful outcomes for many Hoosier children. Indiana must eliminate the heavy handed legislative approach to education and get back to parents, teachers, and school boards developing and implementing curriculum and diploma standards that provide maximum opportunity and positive outcomes for all Hoosier children.
McCormick: I joined the concern raised by educators, university officials, and community leaders on the proposed changes. The original proposal limited access to Indiana’s colleges and universities. There were also equity concerns, highlighting how the redesign might disadvantage some student populations. The proposal still does not allocate the necessary resources and funding to support its implementation effectively and undermines academic rigor, leaving students less prepared for future success. The primary issue facing high schools has been inadequate funding and a depleted educator pipeline – not the structure of the diploma requirements. The proposal is a solution in search of a problem, echoing a broader trend in Indiana’s unbalanced single-party government over the past two decades.
Braun: Invest in career scholarship programs, support extracurricular exploration, and reward schools for graduating students prepared to excel in their career, college, or the military.
Q: School attendance in Indiana is improving, but remains below pre-pandemic levels. Lawmakers have passed and proposed a variety of solutions to absenteeism, including meetings with families to identify underlying issues, community service and a loss of privileges for older absentee students, as well as potential legal action for parents. What specific approaches would you support to improve school attendance?
Rainwater: I believe that we need to have more innovation, competition, and opportunity in K-12 education. The more options that parents and students have available, the more likely a child will find an educational platform that maximizes their educational success. When children and parents experience positive outcomes through an educational platform, then attendance will improve for those children. Poor attendance is most often a result of negative experiences and outcomes in the educational platform.
McCormick: Improving school attendance in Indiana requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses the root causes of absenteeism. First, I support increasing funding for school counselors and social workers who can work directly with families to identify and resolve underlying issues, such as mental health challenges, economic hardships, or transportation barriers. Additionally, I would promote the implementation of positive reinforcement strategies, such as attendance rewards and recognition programs that celebrate students for consistent attendance. Engaging the community is crucial; partnerships with local organizations can provide resources and support for families in need. Finally, it is critical to foster a positive school climate where students feel safe, supported, and engaged, as this can significantly influence their willingness to attend school regularly. Through these efforts, we can create an environment that encourages attendance and supports student success.
Braun: No response provided.
Q: What incentives or initiatives would you prioritize to improve teacher retention and recruitment? Do you think increasing teacher pay is a solution? If so, how would you do that?
Rainwater: I believe that returning to a less government-centric and more learning-centric educational environment would be the first step. I believe that teachers need more support and collaboration in the classroom. I believe that teachers will be more interested in coming to Indiana schools and staying in Indiana schools when they can teach without the heavy hand of government dictating their every action during the course of the day and the school year. I believe that an expansion of charter schools, private schools, and micro-schools will provide the competitive marketplace where teacher salaries will grow organically.
McCormick: The most invaluable element of a high-quality education system is the teacher. Due to years of extreme Republican state policies targeting educators, the teaching profession has been disrespected, de-professionalized, and dismantled, leaving Indiana with a major shortage of active and prospective educators. Currently, Indiana has 1,000’s of education-related job positions unfilled. Forty states have higher average teacher salaries than Indiana, and Hoosier educators make less than their peers in all border states. Despite the fact most teachers earn a bachelor’s degree, and many hold a master’s degree, teachers earn $23,000 less than non-educators who hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree. As your governor, I will implement commonsense policies to recruit and retain the best, brightest, and most diverse educators for our students. I will fight to establish a minimum base salary of $60,000 for educators, adjust veteran teacher salaries to reflect their non-educator peers, and work to uphold teacher rights by protecting the ability of teacher unions to bargain for wages and benefits.
Braun: Raise base salaries for teachers, guarantee professional benefits like new parent leave, and offer improved health insurance options.
Aleksandra Appleton covers Indiana education policy and writes about K-12 schools across the state. Contact her at [email protected].
Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.
— The Indiana Capital Chronicle covers state government and the state legislature. For more, visit indianacapitalchronicle.com.
