DeLaney proposes amendment to reign in Rokita

Today, Feb. 26, Rep. DeLaney offered an amendment on Senate Bill 211 that would give the Indiana Department of Education sole responsibility over any website reporting on teachers. Additionally, this amendment would provide that any investigation into complaints against teachers be handled by the local school board. The amendment was struck down on procedural grounds. 

State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement in regards to this amendment: 

“The purpose of this amendment is to establish that the publication and investigation of complaints against classroom material or teachers is territory of the Indiana Department of Education. Our Attorney General has a habit of expanding his authority into matters that he has no place in. This provision would keep him from interfering with our schools.

“This new 'Eyes on Education' website uses taxpayer money to go after teachers for unsubstantiated accusations of 'spreading woke ideologies.' Attorney General Rokita’s website puts Hoosier educators smack dab in the middle of yet another culture war and erodes freedom of speech in our public schools.

“The agency responsible for our education system is the Department of Education, not the office of the AG.”