Indiana Families is pleased to inform parents that house bill 1367, which threatened the closure of Indiana's Virtual Pilot School, has been successfully amended to take out all references to closing or delaying virtual schools.

The Senate Rules and Regulations Committee met today to hear testimony regarding the bill and proposed amendments.  HB 1367, as it passed the democratically controlled house, was written to close the virtual pilot, stifle opening new charter schools, eliminate the scholarship tax credit and weaken school choice for Hoosiers.  ISTA was the chief supporter of the bill and was not in favor of any amendments that would weaken it.

Led by Republican Senator David Long, the committee voted down party lines in regards to an amendment that cut out the offending language, leaving our Virtual Pilot School safe for now.   

We are grateful for the support of the Charter School Association, School Choice of Indiana, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and the Indiana Department of Education for speaking up and supporting virtual schools for Indiana kids!

Quality schools that work for kids, education reform, and innovative learning methods should not be party line issues! 

Though the battle for a responsible, quality education for every child never ends, we are thankful for days like today that give us hope for legislation that doesn't put big dollar special interest group's wishes above the needs of kids.