The Indiana House this afternoon concurred with its counterparts in the Senate and voted to make the Superintendent of Public Instruction an appointed position.
The vote was 66-31.
The bill, which now heads to Governor Eric Holcomb, would make the position an appointed one in 2025 and the individual would have to be an Indiana resident for at least two years.
The candidate must have earned an advanced degree and served as a teacher, principal or superintendent or as an executive in the field of education for at least five years. The bill would also change the position’s title to Indiana Secretary of Education.
The original bill did not have any of those requirements, but it was changed in the Senate earlier because it failed to get a majority vote earlier in the Chamber.
Supporters of the legislation argued it would take the politics out of the office, which they say has plagued it over the last eight years. Opponents say making the office appointed to power away from the voters.
House Speaker Brian Bosma issued the following statement…
“For over 30 years, legislators on both sides of the aisle have supported the move to an appointed superintendent, and for the first time, the measure successfully passed both chambers. The bill’s passage underscores the importance of taking politics out of education and putting Hoosier children first. Our students, parents, and educators deserve consistency, and better coordination in the administration of education policy and this action marks a giant step forward. While it was a long road to get here, we reached a compromise with the Senate, and I look forward to the bill becoming law.”
