Story Created:
Sep 3, 2008 at 11:05 AM EST
Story Updated:
Sep 3, 2008 at 4:52 PM EST
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Democrat Jill Long Thompson rolled out education proposals Wednesday that would give young students free books, high school kids more time to graduate and college-bound students more scholarships.
The ideas aren't new.
But the gubernatorial hopeful said building on existing, successful programs would improve education in Indiana.
"Our path to a better economy starts with a quality education for all Hoosiers," said Long Thompson, who faces Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels in November's election.
Long Thompson hopes that Indiana could boost its graduation rate by offering more students a fifth year of high school to earn a diploma.
Students can already stay in high school for more than four years. Those students are not counted toward the state's official four-year graduation rate, which was 76 percent last year. The state's five-year graduation rate — calculated just for informational purposes — is only slightly higher at 77 percent, said Indiana Department of Education spokesman Jason Bearce.
The four-year graduation rate formula is mandated by state law, so the General Assembly would have to approve any changes, such as including fifth-year graduates.
Some high school dropouts say they left school because of boredom, so a fifth year might not appeal to them. But some are behind in credits because of family or work circumstances and could graduate if encouraged to take a fifth year, Long Thompson said.
The Department of Education would have to shell out more cash if a lot more students opted for the five-year approach. Taxpayers spend about $10,000 on one year of high school for one student, said Bearce.
But Long Thompson said the investment would pay off in the long run because taxpayers would avoid other expenses sometimes associated with high school dropouts, such as incarceration or welfare costs.
Long Thompson also proposed giving young children a free book each month from the time they are born until they turn five years old. That idea is based on Dolly Parton's "Imagination Library" program, which operates in communities across the country, including some in Indiana. Long Thompson said the state could run a similar program using age-appropriate story books donated by publishing companies that supply textbooks for Indiana schools.
Long Thompson also wants to beef up the state's 21st Century Scholars Program, which provides financial aid for lower-income students who meet certain grade requirements and pledge to abstain from drugs and alcohol.
She wants to expand the program to students from families making no more than 250 percent of the federal poverty level — or about $53,000 a year or less for a family of four. Currently the scholarships are available to students from families earning 185 percent of the poverty level, or $39,220 for a family of four.
The increase could cost an estimated $15 million — money Long Thompson said would come from new nonprofit organizations that would be dedicated solely to raising private donations from people and corporations.
Daniels has proposed scholarships as part of his education initiatives. The Hoosier College Promise program would help students whose families earn less than $60,000 a year. Students could get two years free tuition at Ivy Tech Community College, or up to $6,000 to use during their first two years at another Indiana public or private school.
Daniels says leasing the state lottery is one option to pay for the $50 million a year program. Campaign spokesman Cam Savage said Daniels' proposal would offer parents more security than his opponent's, because Hoosier College Promise would be based on a predictable income source instead of relying on the success of fundraising organizations.
"It's not reliant on the generosity of groups who may not be able to meet their pledges and obligations," Savage said.
Long Thompson said that although Daniels' scholarships may initially seem more attractive to parents, the state should not lease the lottery.
"In reality, it won't work," she said.
Daniels is also pushing several other education proposals, including one that could help teachers maintain order in their classrooms and another that would expand a teacher fellowship. On Wednesday, Daniels started running three television commercials statewide touting some of his education ideas.
