Thousands of red-garbed educators and their supporters marched through Indianapolis on Nov. 19 for a Red for Ed Action Day to demand improvements to public education in Indiana. The event was organized by the Indiana State Teachers Association and other labor groups to call on the state government to boost teacher pay, keep school districts from being blamed for poor student performance on a new statewide test and end certain professional development requirements.

The average salary of Indiana’s teachers was $50,614 in the 2017–18 school year, significantly lower than surrounding states. One estimate found that it would take more than $650 million to bring teacher salaries in the state in line with other states in the region.

The march, one of the largest in the state in recent history, ended at the statehouse, where lawmakers had gathered to begin the 2020 legislative session. Participants chanted “We will vote you out of here” to emphasize their power on Election Day.

More than half of the state’s schools closed for the day, with some offering e-learning instead.

USA Today, Nov. 17 & 19
IndyStar, Nov. 19