Our Mission

Who is I-PACE

The Indiana Political Action Committee for Education (I-PACE) is the political action division of the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA).

Our Purpose

The purpose of I-PACE is to promote the cause of public education in Indiana through political action. I-PACE assists candidates, political parties and committees who are favorable to education issues as determined by ISTA Representative Assembly resolutions and legislative priorities.

I-PACE has four objectives:

  1. Research, evaluate and endorse candidates for public office.

  2. Collect and disburse funds for contributions to endorsed candidates.

  3. Mobilize volunteers for the campaigns of endorsed candidates.

  4. Facilitate member involvement in the political process.

I-PACE has organized and affiliated local political action committee (L-PAC) subcommittees within district council units of ISTA with representatives from locals in the districts.

Guiding Principles

I-PACE’s six guiding principles are:

  1. I-PACE will focus on issues directly affecting public education (students, educators and schools).

  2. I-PACE will strive to build bipartisan support for public education.

  3. I-PACE will be pragmatic by striving to only contribute to candidates who stand a realistic chance of winning based upon multiple, measurable criteria or are of strategic importance to ISTA.

  4. I-PACE will be pragmatic by striving to only interview candidates in races that have strategic importance to ISTA.

  5. I-PACE will consider the varied partisan affiliations of ISTA members when making decisions.

  6. I-PACE will work to build more local and community support for public education (i.e., creating plans to support local initiatives, local relationships with public officials, coalitions, and issue advocacy, as well as working to engage members locally in politics).

Adopted March 2026