CECI Plans to Remove Superintendent Ritz as chair of State Board of Education

The job of the Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction is being threatened!

The Indiana Department of Education posted information about how the Center for Education and Career Information (CECI) is making political plans to remove Superintendent Ritz as chair of the State Board of Education. The post referred to CECI documents describing the plan.

Here's an excellent synopsis of the CECI document from Jenny Robinson:

[The CECI document] includes recommendations on a number of things, including redefining the role of the state superintendent so that a governor-appointed state board member would chair the policy-making state board of education...but also on liquidating "unused" or "underutilized" public school buildings, seizing the associated local property tax funds, and potentially channeling those assets into the private sector. Direct quote: "...removing the requirement of maintenance of buildings from school corporations allows school corporations to focus on educating children rather than on facilities maintenance." Has CECI posted this document anywhere publicly? Thanks to Ritz's DOE for posting it and shedding some light on this shadowy agency.

Also, under "Pre-Kindergarten": "It is critical that any pre-K program have strong accountability based on outcome data that measures whether or not providers are preparing students to be ready for Kindergarten. Work has already been done to develop pre-K standards and assessment, but we must connect pre-K to K-3 policy, including a strong emphasis on literacy. Consistent with having high levels of accountability, providers who do not meet expectations for Kindergarten preparedness should face strong penalties including removal from the program.

We should let Governor Pence know that this is not the direction we would like for public education in Indiana. Contact the Governor by clicking on the following link:

http://www.in.gov/gov/2333.htm

Scroll down the center for the telephone number, postal mail address, or an email form.

Below is the press release which, Daniel Altman, press secretary for the Indiana Department of Education posted on the DOE web site on Wednesday:

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Indiana Department of Education Releases CECI Roadmap

Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Daniel Altman
Press Secretary
(317) 232-0550
daltman@doe.in.gov

INDIANAPOLIS – In response to a reporter’s question about attempts by the State Board of Education and Governor Pence’s Center for Education and Career Innovation (CECI) to remove her power, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz today reaffirmed her position that the CECI is seeking to have her removed as Chair of the State Board and lessen her authority.

Below is a document that was sent from a CECI attorney regarding the CECI’s plans to remove Superintendent Ritz as chair. Section five of the document details those plans. The document is CECI’s roadmap to:

-Remove the elected Superintendent as chair of the State Board;

-Continue the corporatization of public education to the detriment of public education in our state;

-Transfer and erode local control over school facilities; and

-Take away authority statutorily given to the Department of Education.

“Last year, I was elected to lead the Indiana Department of Education and chair the State Board of Education,” said Superintendent Ritz. “This document shows that the CECI is attempting to change a governing structure that has worked for over 100 years, under both Democrats and Republicans.”

Also below is a preliminary draft of a bill that was circulated at an interim summer study committee that would take away authority from the Department of Education over carefully protected student privacy data.

“As an educator and a parent, I know that the protection of student information is one of the key roles of the Department.

“I am committed to ensuring that the elected Office of the Superintendent continues to serve as chair of the State Board while preserving the authority of the Department to protect the voice of the voters and the integrity of public education in Indiana."

A copy of the documents can be found here.

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