Signed by Governor Mike Pence

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends certain education procedures, effective July 1, 2016.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a school district to provide a supplemental payment to a teacher in excess of the salary specified in the compensation plan, if the teacher teaches an advanced placement course (Sec. 10).

• Establishes Career Pathways and Mentorship Program that authorizes a pay raise for a qualified teacher who receives a rating of “effective” or “highly effective” on the most recent annual evaluation (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a teacher in the first 2 school years who receives a rating of “ineffective” or “improvement necessary” to be eligible for a pay raise (Sec. 10).

• Requires a school district, charter school, or private school to conduct an “expanded child protection index check” within 3 months of an applicant’s employment (Sec. 4).

• Defines “expanded child protection index check” as the following inquiries (Sec. 3):
• An inquiry with the Department of Child Services as to whether an individual has been the subject of a report of child abuse or neglect; 
• An inquiry with the child welfare agency as to whether the individual has committed child abuse or neglect; and
• An inquiry with the Department of Education as to whether the individual has had a teaching license suspended or revoked.

• Requires a school that receives a request for an employment reference from another school to disclose any known incident in which the employee was reported for abuse or neglect, regardless of any confidentiality agreement with the employee (Sec. 6).

• Requires the state to accept eligible choice scholarship applications from students between September 2 and January 15 for the spring semester (Sec. 22).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends certain education procedures, effective July 1, 2016.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a school district to provide a supplemental payment to a teacher in excess of the salary specified in the compensation plan, if the teacher teaches an advanced placement course (Sec. 10).

• Establishes Career Pathways and Mentorship Program that authorizes a pay raise for a qualified teacher who receives a rating of “effective” or “highly effective” on the most recent annual evaluation (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a teacher in the first 2 school years who receives a rating of “ineffective” or “improvement necessary” to be eligible for a pay raise (Sec. 10).

• Requires a school district, charter school, or private school to conduct an “expanded child protection index check” within 3 months of an applicant’s employment (Sec. 4).

• Defines “expanded child protection index check” as the following inquiries (Sec. 3):
• An inquiry with the Department of Child Services as to whether an individual has been the subject of a report of child abuse or neglect; 
• An inquiry with the child welfare agency as to whether the individual has committed child abuse or neglect; and
• An inquiry with the Department of Education as to whether the individual has had a teaching license suspended or revoked.

• Requires a school that receives a request for an employment reference from another school to disclose any known incident in which the employee was reported for abuse or neglect, regardless of any confidentiality agreement with the employee (Sec. 6).

• Requires the state to accept eligible choice scholarship applications from students between September 2 and January 15 for the spring semester (Sec. 22).

Full Bill Text