Smith advocates for increased support to struggling students

INDIANAPOLIS – State Representative Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) today cautioned against Senate Bill 414’s creation of an early warning system that fails to provide the data schools need to make improvements in their students’ education. The system could also be used to unfairly evaluate Indiana teachers and public schools.

“This is once again an attempt by the supermajority to undermine our public schools, which serve 90% of Hoosier students,” Smith said. “We need to equip schools with the tools they need to actually help struggling students rather than letting problems fester.”

Early warning systems evaluate and identify students exhibiting behavior that puts them at risk of dropping out of school. The system put in place by the legislation fails to include specific areas of school subjects students are struggling in, making it more difficult for teachers to help these students. 

“If we do not get to the root of the problem, all that the early warning system does is show that students are not achieving,” Smith added. “That does not solve anything. The research is out there and we must implement it in order to keep Indiana students in school.” 

Smith also criticized the bill’s establishment of a second average daily membership count for schools, to be performed this spring. The count fails to include students transferring from charter back to public schools, leading to fewer funds for public school students. 

“We claim that the money follows the child in Indiana,” Smith continued. “If this is true we must ensure that the second average daily membership counts really do count.”

The bill passed out of the House yesterday with a vote of 66-29.