Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate announces education platform

Democratic candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz announced on Wednesday her plan to increase high school graduation rates.

Ritz, an elementary school teacher from Carmel, Ind., has never run for political office before.

In the November election, she will face incumbent and Republican candidate Tony Bennett.

The high school graduation rate in Indiana currently stands at 85.7 percent, above the national average of 75.5 percent.

Ritz’s plan focuses on raising the Indiana rate further and eliminating what she calls “dropout factories.”

Here are a few of the main points in Ritz’s platform:

focus on reading

Initiate a statewide K-12 focus on reading as preventative measures to increase the graduation rates.

seek outside funding

Seek federal, state and private sector funding to reinstate remedial education programs.

career preparation

Facilitate vocational classes and provide internships for high school students.

­— Jessica Contrera