Bennett croons message of accountability

MUNSTER | From pushing for higher expectations for teachers to creating an alternative pathway for new principals, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett is determined to improve education in Indiana.

The superintendent is traveling the state to deliver his message of improvement and accountability.

Bennett, who met with The Times Editorial Board on Thursday, said his goals are tied to his next three years in office. Over that time, he wants 90 percent of all students to pass ISTEP-Plus and 90 percent of students to graduate from high school by 2012.

In 2008, Gary's Roosevelt High School had one of the worst graduation rates in the region, with 42.4 percent of their students graduating.

Bennett, who is closely aligned with Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, is focusing on reforming K-12 public education to include increasing the number of instructional days and revamping state teacher licensing requirements to promoting content mastery as well as increasing graduation rates.

"What's wrong with a longer school day, a longer week and a longer year?" he asked. In Europe, schools go for more than 195 days a year and by comparison more than 12 years of education, students there get an extra year of school.

Bennett said in its 2007 State Teacher Policy Yearbook, the National Council on Teacher Quality gave Indiana a D for its policies to identify teacher effectiveness and retain the best new teachers.

"That's embarrassing," he said.

Bennett said the state needs to attract the absolute best teachers.

"You can't tell me that someone like Governor Daniels couldn't teach government even if he doesn't have the licensure requirements," Bennett said.

He said the concept of "different pathways" is something the state already allows in vocational schools. "If a director is looking for a welding teacher, we go to a welder and that person will get a temporary license allowing him to teach. We're already doing these kinds of things. Why is it any different in a classroom?" he asked, adding that every year school districts apply for emergency licenses for teachers to be able to teach out of their subject.

The Department of Education has proposed changing the educator licensing rules to attract successful professionals to careers in education and to ensure future teachers have deep "content" knowledge of their subjects.

While Bennett has not developed his legislative plan for the next session, he said there are four critical areas: standards and assessments; teacher quality; data that tracks students through the system; and accountability, specifically with underperforming schools.