Truth Summary
Fewer effective teacher candidates is a problem. But this problem is not unique to Indiana, and certainly is not the result of education reform. In California, where nothing about the education system has been reformed, first-year teacher licenses have dropped 53 percent. Similar trends are being reported in New York, Illinois and other states where reforms have been modest or non-existent.
It is nonsense to blame education reform for any of Indiana’s challenges. We must continue to insist that all Hoosier children have access to an excellent education and thus gain opportunities to succeed in life and work We must continue to demand improvements in our children’s performance, while giving full credit when improvements result from the changes we introduce. Hopefully, one day the forces of reaction and the defenders of the status quo will join us in this fight.
