Early education, mass transit bills get hearings

On Thursday the House Education Committee heard testimony on House Bill 1004 which would establish a pilot pre-K scholarship program for low-income children in five Indiana counties. The bill would also require that such scholarships be used in programs that meet level three or four of the state's Paths to QUALITY program.

Ted Maple, United Way of Central Indiana's (UWCI) director of education, testified in support of House Bill 1004. United Way supports voluntary public pre-K programs that are evidence-based, use age-appropriate curriculum and are provided via a
mixed delivery system that includes high quality providers whether they are located in existing child cares or schools. Stay tuned for future updates and advocacy actions you can take as the bill advances.

UWCI also voiced support for HouseBill 1011. The bill would allow counties to conduct a voter referendum to opt to dedicate funding for mass transit, and ultimately result in additional transportation options for individuals and families that United Way serves.

United Way's Hamilton County Director Joan Isaac testified in support of House Bill 1011 when it was heard in the House Roads and Transportation Committee January 23. United Way's past community assessments have shown that access to reliable transportation is a basic requirement for economic self-sufficiency. You can find out more about the mass transit plan here.

House Bill 1011 was passed by the Roads and Transportation Committee and is next scheduled to be heard in the House Ways and Means Committee - likely next week. Here is a link to the HouseWays and Means Committee. If you live in one of these
legislator's districts, please let them know that you -- a constituent -- support House Bill 1011.

United Way of Central Indiana’s board adopted a resolution in support of additional transit funding in July 2012.

--Laura Smoots, director, public policy, United Way of Central