LGBTQ Statehouse Day

On January 30th from 10-2pm in the South Atrium, join our friends with the ACLU of Indiana and other advocates for the 4th Annual LGBTQ Statehouse Day.

Before you go, be sure you let legislators know to oppose any attacks on the rights of LGBTQ Hoosiers. 

Come and meet LGBTQ service organizations from all over Indiana, and hear messages of support from leaders and lawmakers. Boxed lunches will be available at noon (first come, first served).

No RSVP is needed.

Advocacy Update and Training!

Join MCCOY's Public Policy and Advocacy Director, Sarah Kumfer, for an Advocacy Power Hour. She will cover some of the hot topics that the Indiana General Assembly is addressing this session along with ways on how you can take action and encourage those in your network to do the same!

• When: Friday, February 10, 11:00AM-Noon
• Where: Zoom

Education Savings Accounts

SB 305 INDIANA EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT PROGRAM passed out of the Senate Education and Career Development Committee on Wednesday with a vote of 8-5. It is now heading to the Senate Appropriations Committee for review of its financial requirements and passage before being sent to the full Senate Chamber.

If passed, it would expand access to allow for all students to be eligible for Education Savings Accounts (ESA’s) through the office of the Treasurer. This would allow parents to receive government funds to place their children in the schools of their choice. 

Legislators backed away from an initial proposal that would have opened the state’s Education Scholarship Accounts to all students regardless of family income or education needs through amending the bill to limit the accounts to families meeting the program’s current income requirements. These changes also would reserve half of the total appropriation for students who receive special education services — the group the accounts currently serve.

Advocates in support of the bill are excited at the opportunity to expand opportunities for school choice, while opponents are concerned that this would take much-needed funding away from public schools and remove any public oversight by paying taxpayer money for independent or home schools who may not have strong credentials or follow state academic standards.

Financial Literacy

SB 35 FINANCIAL LITERACY passed out of the Senate Education and Career Development Committee on Wednesday with unanimous support. The bill would require high school students to pass a financial literacy course to graduate. According to the bill, schools must offer a stand-alone course on topics like opening a bank account, applying for loans, and filling out tax returns. High schoolers would be required to take the class beginning with the Class of 2028. 

The vote puts Indiana on track to join several other states that have recently adopted financial literacy graduation requirements. 

SB35 is now being sent to the full Senate Chamber for further review. 

Indiana Black Legislative Caucus

The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus released their 2023 Legislative Agenda this week. This group of legislators advocate for Black Hoosiers at the Statehouse and are prioritizing the improvement of educational outcomes this session by closing the achievement gap between African American Students and their non-Black peers.

IBLC members have filed House Bill 1449, automatically enrolling eligible students in Indiana's 21st Century Scholars program for postsecondary education; House Bill 1571, providing state grants to reading teachers; and House Bill 1153, establishing a division of the Department of Education to evaluate cultural competency at Indiana public schools.

MCCOY supports these three bills and looks forward to working with IBLC members and other advocates around Indiana to help achieve the goals of this caucus.