DR. WOODY MYERS AND LINDA LAWSON RELEASE PLAN FOR K-12 EDUCATION REVAMP

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Today Dr. Woody Myers and Linda Lawson announced their plan to revamp K-12 education, with plans to reevaluate how school funding is distributed to help reduce achievement gaps for marginalized students and improve student outcomes across Indiana.

The Holcomb Administration and Statehouse Republicans are ignoring the reality of our public education system and are actively working against improving it.

“Accountability and transparency are hallmarks of good governance,” said Dr. Woody Myers. “Linda Lawson and I will bring these qualities back to our state government, starting with education.”

“We will put people over politics by stopping arbitrary testing, adding in accountability, and pressing pause on new charter schools,” said Linda Lawson. “All Hoosier children deserve the best education possible.”
 The Myers/Lawson plan will:

• Increase funding for more school nurses, social workers, and counselors
• Improve access to technology and broadband at home
• Work with the Indiana State Board of Education to ensure the Indiana Academic Standards include culturally sensitive material and appropriate career-readiness training
• Implement training on culturally-responsive, trauma-informed practices and implicit bias for teachers to be better prepared for culturally diverse classrooms
• Institute a single accountability system for all public school models that is equitable and transparent
• Streamline testing to put the focus on improving student academic results by subgroups and utilize test results to support at-risk schools
• Pause new charter schools until we can level the playing field and improve accountability standards
• Put public funding back in public schools by placing a pause on vouchers
• Protect education budget from future cuts
• Improve compensation to attract and retain teachers
• Guarantee quality, universal pre-K and require Kindergarten
• Ensure proper funding reaches our most vulnerable student populations

• Ensure more equitable distribution of funds and resources so high-need schools are receiving appropriate levels of support 
• Reduce achievement gaps for marginalized students through additional tutoring supports and school resources 
• End the school-to-prison pipeline by ensuring age and developmentally appropriate approach to school disciplinary practices and youth justice are fair and prioritize improving student outcomes