Indiana State Teachers Association

Ista has nearly 40,000 members State wide. Ista provides professional assistance and technical support for local bargaining teams, expert legal advice and representation and quality professional development at little or no cost. Ista's influence is recognized in the general assembly and in State education policy making. Ista has obtained landmark gains for Hoosier educators, including collective bargaining, early retirement, pregnancy law leave and protection for school employees against assault.

Ista strives to develop, facilitate and conduct professional development opportunities for Teachers and administrators within the State of Indiana. Ista is committed to: strengthening the commitment to professional development as a tool to improve student learning; modeling high quality development practices; promoting collaboration among educational constituents, institutions and organizations; increasing teacher knowledge and skills; and enhancing teacher leadership.

Ista's government relations activities continue to address legislation and other functions which include: legislation-to lobby legislators and the executive branch to enact appropriations and laws to strengthen and protect public education; to participate in coalitions to advance the cause of public education; agency relations-to advocate accurate and helpful agency interpretation and enforcement of laws, court cases, and regulations on matters affecting public schools and their employees. Agencies include (but are not limited to): State board of education and department of education; Indiana education employment relations board and agency; Indiana public retirement system including the Teachers retirement fund. Political education and action- to research and collect candidate information to share with members; to facilitate member involvement in the political process as delegates and party officials; to register and turn out members to vote; to collect and disburse voluntary political action dollars separate from dues to elect friends of public education to office.