Join INPEA Executive Director John Elcesser, Associate Executive Director Chris Brunson, and IQE Associate Director of Policy and Government Affairs Molly Collins for this recap of the 2024 legislative session. In 20 minutes, they review the key pieces of legislation that have the most impact on our non-public schools.
Join INPEA Executive Director John Elcesser, Associate Executive Director Chris Brunson, and IQE Associate Director of Policy and Government Affairs Molly Collins for this recap of the 2024 legislative session. In 20 minutes, they review the key pieces of legislation that have the most impact on our non-public schools.
Statehouse Express: Season 5 Episode 7
Hi, this is John Elcesser, Executive Director at INPEA, and welcome to the to the last stop on our 2024 Statehouse Express! As I shared in my legislative summary last week, on Friday, March 8th at about 10pm the General Assembly adjourned the 2024 session “Sine Die”.
As I was at Crossover, I’m joined today by Chris Brunson, Associate Director at INPEA and our friend from IQE Molly Collins, Executive Director of Policy and Government Affairs. Last week in our legislative summary we shared an overview of the bills making it out of the Statehouse. Today we are going to break open a few of the more significant bills. I shared last week that we started the session tracking about 64 bills. By crossover that number had shrunk to 24 and by the end of the session we were only tracking 18 bills and not all of those impacted non-public schools.
So, let’s start with the biggie: SEA 1 the reading bill. As we all know, reading has been a huge focus for the State. With only one in five students passing IREAD, all leadership at the State level. From the Governor to House and Senate Leadership to IDOE, everyone felt this was a crisis that needed concrete solutions. As educators, we all know how essential the mastery of reading skills is to success in school and in life. So let’s talk about the good things included in SEA 1 and what are the challenges for non-public schools.
Molly….
Chris:
Another BIG bill is HEA 1243. This is a Various Education Matters bill or what I like to call a kitchen sink bill. Lots of stuff in it. Let’s start with the things that most directly impact non-public schools.
One area deals with new diploma requirements. The intent is to establish one diploma with two designations by October of 2028. One for folks immediately entering the workforce and the other for those moving into postsecondary education. And my understanding is that the two designations would not be mutually exclusive.
A second area is the requirement for high schools to offer a stand-alone computer science course that would be required for graduation for the 2029 graduation cohort.
A third area involves expanding the requirement to teach personal financial responsibility to 8th grade.
In a fourth area the bill provides some guidance and clarification around the role of a “Literacy Coach”
And finally, HEA 1243 charges the DOE to develop a focus on Mathematics instructions including online professional development, a way track math proficiency, create and identify math resources for educators and families and submit a plan to legislative council on identifying student at risk for not achieving grade level proficiency. They seem to be trying to equal emphasis on math that has already been put on reading. All of these tasks must be completed by December of 2024.
Molly and Chris any thoughts on 1243 requirements or anything I missed?
Chris:
Now let’s touch on a few bills that impact non-pubs but really in some ways to a lesser degree.
Let’s start HEA 1001: Molly do you want to mention the few areas that could impact non-pubs.
Chris how about SEA 8 and its impact on high schools
Molly do you want to touch on HEA 1380
And Chris how about the expansion of eligibility on HEA 1233
The Department of Ed and the State Board will be working on guidance for many of these bills. I am sure will be hearing much more on SEA 1 and HEA 1243 and others so stay tuned. If you have questions reach out and we’ll ty to get answers.
So now with the 2024 session somewhat behind us, we must immediately turn us attention to preparing for and gearing for the 2025 session. Preliminarily, we have two goals: Achieving universal choice and stopping the progression of regulatory creep. We will be convening meetings beginning in April and we will be calling on you for your input and your involvement. I believe our goals are achievable but it will take all us being actively and passionately engaged.
Molly and Chris, what are your thoughts?
Well, I think that’s about it for this final stop on the Statehouse Express. My thanks to Chris and Molly for joining me. My thanks to all of you for what you do every day for the students entrusted to you. We still have work to do so let’s together and get it done!
Take care and God bless!