INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—More than 5,000 teachers packed the state capitol Nov. 19 to demand better pay and more school funding on the day the state legislature began its 2020 session. The Red for Ed Action Day, organized by the Indiana State Teachers Association and other unions, brought thousands more to downtown Indianapolis and closed more than half of the state’s public school districts. “Our class sizes are getting larger and larger each year,” fifth-grade teacher Christine Elkin told the Indianapolis Star, “and we don’t feel like we’re able to do the best for our kids anymore.” She was one of 160 teachers who rode chartered buses up from Clark County, about 90 minutes south of Indianapolis. State House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) told reporters the day before that raising teachers’ pay would likely be delayed until the next state budget, in 2021. He said on the floor that teachers “don’t get all the information,” because they’re busy in the classroom “and not looking at the state budget.” He said he would introduce a measure to repeal a requirement that teachers have to finish 15 hours of professional development to renew their licenses. Read more
