In the News
Wayne Dale News- Shepherd awarded in adult education essay contest
Shelby Co. Post – Heritage House among adult learners, Indiana employers honored at 2023 Adult Education Day at the Statehouse
Putnam Co. Post – Crown Equipment among adult learners, Indiana employers honored at 2023 Adult Education Day at the Statehouse
WBIW/Bedford – Local adult learners, Indiana employers honored at 2023 Adult Education Day at the Statehouse
Greene Co. Daily World – Adult learners, employers honored at Statehouse (*paywall)
Bluffton News Banner – Shepherd wins state essay contest on adult education’s value
New Albany News & Tribune – Ivy Power: Following pandemic delay, students thriving in specialized program
Senator Liz Brown Newsletter 2/18/23
Quick Survey
Quick Survey
A quick survey on the estimated number of adult learners/students that you have in your program that may have transferred from an Excel Center/ Adult High School.
The Latest
3/13/23
The Senate Hearing on the budget bill. DWD is presenting at 3:40 pm ET. Recap
Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing Presentations in ET
2:00pm-2:20pm Indiana Finance Authority (State Debt Overview)
2:20pm-2:40pm Indiana Public Retirement System
2:40pm-3:00pm Department of Natural Resources
3:00pm-3:20pm Indiana Department of Environmental Management
3:20pm-3:40pm Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
3:40pm-4:00pm Department of Workforce Development
4:00pm-4:20pm Department of Education
4:20pm-4:40pm Office of the Attorney General
4:40pm-5:00pm Department of Child Service
3/1/23
The General Assembly crossed deadlines this week for bills to be passed out of originating chambers. The legislature is now on its mid-session break and will return to the Statehouse on Monday, March 6th.
2/24/2023
rev 3/6/23
Ask the Senate 2023
- Request that the Senate restore the increase in funding to the Department of Workforce Development adult education programs that was originally in the Governor’s proposed budget and introduced in the House of Representatives through HB 1001.
The increase in the introduced version (page 39, Line 27) was $16,985,041 for the first year and $20,985,041 for the second.
This proposed increase was in line with Governor’s Workforce Cabinet Recommendations to Tackle Employer Talent Challenges and Accelerate the State’s Economy, which called for “significant and immediate increased funding to Indiana’s key adult education programs—Indiana Adult Education through DWD, Adult Charter High Schools, and the Workforce Diploma Reimbursement Program through GWC.”
House Ways and Means Committee passed a budget that eliminated any increases for DWD Adult Education at $12.9 million the first year and $12.9 million the second year. $14.5 million was the pre-pandemic amount; $12.9 million was the pandemic funding cut. When all education funding was restored during the pandemic, DWD adult education was the only program not restored.
- DWD adult education has not had an increase in funding since 2005. The increase would reduce waiting lists for eligible adults and employers requesting services.
The increase in the Governor’s proposed budget would be used to serve nearly 8,000 eligible adults who are on waiting lists to enroll as students in local adult education programs, as well as about 60 employers who are also on waiting lists to receive workforce education services from local adult education programs for their employees.
2/17/2023
The House of Representatives has proposed a House budget amendment. The increase for Adult Education has been cut. The recommendation is at 12.9 million.
You may find a link to the budget amendment and a Powerpoint describing their priorities. You can find our appropriation in the Budget, page 37, line 41.
Ongoing
Ongoing
Meet Our Lobbyist
Advocacy Reports
Christy McIntyre, Chair, Region 5
Lily Albright, Region 8
Lisa Cruea, Region 4
Maeve Warrick, Region 5
Danni Shreve, Region 1
William Patterson, Region 2
Adrienne Carrol, Region 1
Konnie McCollum, Region 9 & 10
Jenn Wigginton, Region 11
Joseph E. Loftus, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg
- 11 South Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-3535
P:317-231-7213
F:317-231-7433
Joseph Loftus is a partner in the Indianapolis, Indiana office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP. He practices as a member of the firm’s Government Services and Finance Department and co-chairs the Public Policy Practice Group.
Mr. Loftus’ government services practice includes advising government and business clients in developing legislative and executive strategies for effectively advocating their interests before state and local legislative and administrative bodies. In addition, Mr. Loftus advises business clients regarding state and local procurement laws and administrative practices. Mr. Loftus also represents both governments and businesses in negotiating public private partnership agreements that have led to the outsourcing of government operations and facilities.
Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Mr. Loftus was the senior deputy mayor of the City of Indianapolis and, before that, the chief advisor to the House Ways & Means Committee of the Indiana General Assembly.
Mr. Loftus’ community involvement includes the following board memberships: Indiana State Chamber of Commerce; Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce; Indiana State Museum; Indiana Sports Corporation; Indiana Manufacturers Association; and the Dean’s Distinguished Alumni Council, IUSPEA.
Mr. Loftus received the Government Relations Lawyer of the Year award from Best Lawyers in 2011 and 2015, and the Lawyer of the Year award for Gaming Law in 2014 and is annually recognized on The Best Lawyers in America list. He received an M.S. in public finance from Indiana University in 1978 and a J.D. from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1983. Mr. Loftus is admitted to practice in the state of Indiana.
This Indiana General Assembly link allows you to find your legislature by street address. It provides you with a phone number and the ability to send emails.
Visit the website for information on How a bill Becomes a Law, Senate District Map, House District Map, Session Information, and Legislation, plus so much more.
Important Senate Dates
The 2023 legislative session is quickly approaching. Here are the important dates to know while following the Senate.
Jan. 9: First day of the legislative session
Jan. 13: Deadline for a Senator to file bills
Jan. 20: Last day for a Senate bill to be assigned to a committee
Feb. 23: Last day for a Senate bill to pass out of committee
Feb. 27: Last day for a Senate bill to pass the Senate on second reading
Feb. 28: Last day for a Senate bill to pass the Senate on the third reading
April 13: Last day for a House bill to pass out of its Senate committee
April 17: Last day for a House bill to pass the Senate on second reading
April 18: Last day for a House bill to pass the Senate on third reading
April 19 – 28: Conference committees
April 29: Last possible day to adjourn the session for the year
Jan. 13: Deadline for a Senator to file bills
Jan. 20: Last day for a Senate bill to be assigned to a committee
Feb. 23: Last day for a Senate bill to pass out of committee
Feb. 27: Last day for a Senate bill to pass the Senate on second reading
Feb. 28: Last day for a Senate bill to pass the Senate on the third reading
April 13: Last day for a House bill to pass out of its Senate committee
April 17: Last day for a House bill to pass the Senate on second reading
April 18: Last day for a House bill to pass the Senate on third reading
April 19 – 28: Conference committees
April 29: Last possible day to adjourn the session for the year
Click here to visit the website to find bills, committee meetings and live streams, and more.
Educate & Elevate
Educate and elevate is a collaboration of the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE) and the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education (NCSDAE) Adult Education Campaign. The site includes the ability to submit success stories from adult learners, teachers, and employer success, As well as a map locator tool by the state that provides you with tools for the successes of your state. For example, the Indiana page COABE Fact Sheet, State Data Analysis PIAAC Skills Map, and highlights State innovations and Success Stories. You may subscribe and share as well at educateandelevate.org/subscribe/.
Some 55,000+ adult education leaders stand united in a national campaign to educate America about the importance of Adult Education in advancing career and college readiness for millions of people.
We urge policymakers to stay informed on our successes and to fund Adult
Education at the $649 million level, as called for in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act enacted in 2014. Check out our page on the Educate and Elevate website (here) and view Indiana’s successes and innovations.
If you have a story, testimonial, or innovation, you may submit them by going to the Educate & Elevate website. Click on the links below to complete a brief online form and submission instructions.
- Success Story— a narrative that shares the challenge(s), solution(s), and outcome(s) of a student or employer.
- Customer Testimonial— a first-person quote from a student about how adult education supported their goals and dreams and/or from an employer who had a great experience with an adult education organization and/or an adult learner.
- Innovation— a narrative summary of an adult education program, project, or initiative that you believe has been innovative in helping students, employers, and/or your community.
The power of these collective stories across the nation will inspire and inform policymakers, business leaders, community leaders, and many more!
Advocacy on behalf of Indiana adult education can take many forms – interacting with IAACE online, inviting a community partner to visit your program, sharing a student story with your legislator. We aim to provide you with tools to help you incorporate advocacy in easy and effective ways. Join us in making the importance of adult ed known!
Below are various resources to help you advocate for adult education. Additional resources will be added and please let us know (via the contact form) if there are specific tools you would find helpful in your advocacy efforts!
- Send us your stories of students who have achieved successful results!
- Send us press releases, photos and/or related information. We’ll share them throughout the state and nationally.
- Host an activity or event to raise awareness of adult education and family literacy. Share it with us so we can help get the word out.
- Invite legislators and policy makers to your program so they can see firsthand, the work that you do.
The following organizations have provided some excellent resources to help advocate for adult education.
- COABE Media Outreach Toolkit for COABE Members
- Pro Literacy’s AEFL Toolkit
- National Coalition for Literacy AEFL Week Flyer
- National Skills Coalition Middle-Skills Fact Sheet (for Indiana)
- National Skills Coalition Fact Sheet
- Finish Your Diploma campaign toolkit – PSAs, videos, printable materials, social media assets, and helpful tips to engage your community and partners.
Additional Tools
- Legislative Lunches
- Sample Invites:
- COABE letter urging Senator/Representative support for funding of Adult Education
- Sample Media Release Form (2 samples)
- Record your students’ stories. Click here for some tips.
- Find and contact your IN General Assembly
- Local & National Impact of Graduation Rate
- Maps – Adults without High School Credentials
- Postcard example (Region 4)
Telling the story of adult education is often done best by students. Check out the student stories here and on our YouTube Channel then check out our Advocacy Tools (above) to help with advocacy efforts like these and others!
View full length “IN Adult Education Gives Hope” video here.