HB 1337 Summary

• Establishes a new process for teacher contract cancellation (IC 20-28-7.5) allowing principals to decline continuation for probationary teachers for any relevant reason, and for professional teachers only due to justifiable decrease in positions or specified misconduct.

• Extends temporary teacher contracts to positions funded by grants with limited-term funding, in addition to existing uses for teachers replacing those on approved leave.

• Creates staff performance evaluation system (IC 20-28-11.5) requiring annual evaluations with ratings of highly effective, effective, improvement necessary, or ineffective, with student achievement as a significant factor.

• Restricts collective bargaining to salary, wages, and salary-related fringe benefits only; prohibits agreements from limiting school restructuring authority, blocking postsecondary credit programs, extending past state budget biennium, or creating deficit financing.

• Changes collective bargaining timeline to begin no later than May 1 and establishes August 14 and September 12 deadlines for mediation and factfinding; allows school employers to end status quo period with 30-day notice.