INDIANAPOLIS—Today Senate Bill 167 was heard in the Senate Committee on Education and Career Development. State Senator Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) released the following statement:

“Senate Bill 167 is nothing more than a partisan distraction tactic,” Sen. Yoder said. “ Critical race theory isn’t taught in Indiana’s public schools—this bill is simply a commitment to wasting time, money and resources on a nonexistent issue, which only does a disservice to Hoosiers. 

“We heard that this bill was written to address widespread parental worries about their lack of involvement in education. This sympathy for families seems to be selective. Hoosier parents have been voicing concerns for years about the lack of access to childcare, growing student mental health issues and severe learning loss. We’ve heard all of this again and again from teachers, professionals and constituents statewide. These are real issues that require real action. That’s why I filed Senate Bill 160 to help this Legislature study and address childcare needs in our state. Currently, there are no counties in our state with adequate access to childcare services—a crucial component in bettering educational outcomes and our children’s futures.

“We need to focus on funding schools, retaining teachers, and supporting students and families. We need to do what we were elected to do: offer Hoosiers real solutions to real problems.”