Heartland Institute Education Expert Reacts to Indiana Parent Trigger Bill Passing Out of Committee

Published February 13, 2013

The Indiana House Education Committee Tuesday approved a “Parent Trigger” reform bill that removes the need for the local school board to approve the measure. The bill, which will now go to the full House for a vote, restores the intent of the Parent Trigger, which is to allow parents, rather than the school board, control the direction of school reform.

The following statements from Joy Pullmann, research fellow for education policy at The Heartland Institute – a free-market think tank – may be used for attribution. For more comments, refer to the contact information below. To book Ms. Pullmann as a guest on your program, please contact Director of Communications Jim Lakely at [email protected] and 312/377-4000 or (cell) 312/731-9364.


“The bill’s proposed changes will give parents actual power to change their kids’ failing schools, which is the whole point of a Parent Trigger. The current school board veto is a veto to the whole idea.

“Because Indiana already has a statewide voucher program, state representatives could add another option for parents besides converting the school to a charter school: giving all the kids slotted to attend that failing school a voucher. Real options for parents is what the Parent Trigger is all about.”

Joy Pullmann
Research Fellow, The Heartland Institute
Managing Editor, School Reform News
[email protected]
312/377-4000