Indiana General Assembly
A proposed property tax relief bill would also require school districts to share operating property tax revenue with charter schools, amounting to a roughly $744 million cut for districts statewide over the next three years.
The Senate’s budget proposal comes as lawmakers advance property tax reforms that could cut funding for many school districts.
The initial makeup of the Indianapolis local education alliance sparked concern from Indianapolis Public Schools. Now, the district said it’s encouraged by the proposed group’s “balanced representation.”
The accounts pay for high schoolers to learn about everything from aviation to HVAC directly from local employers. But it’s not easy to get basic information about the program.
As a bill requiring IPS to share property tax revenue advances, members of the public debated the extent to which different types of schools should receive funding.
House lawmakers have passed their proposed budget, which includes $9.6 billion in tuition support dollars that fund public schools and the private school voucher program.
Leaders of the Indiana Virtual School and Indiana Virtual Pathways Academy face both federal and state cases in which they’re accused of defrauding the state of millions of dollars.
Officials say they want to pare down funding for some programs in order to increase support for both public schools and private school vouchers.
The IPS school board took a stand against legislation that could threaten the district’s future, and called on the public to share their concerns about the legislation with lawmakers. Some members also spoke against the growth of charter schools.
Indianapolis-area teachers will share their classroom experiences at this story slam that’s co-hosted by Chalkbeat Indiana on Feb. 25.
Critics of charter schools say bills this session are part of a long-term plan to destroy the district. The bills’ supporters say they want IPS to be better, not disappear.
The bill is the latest of several proposals that threaten the district’s viability.
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Participation in Indiana’s Education Scholarship Accounts and Career Scholarship Accounts has grown dramatically after lawmakers expanded student eligibility and allowed uses for funding.
Schools always had the option to refer absenteeism cases to the local prosecutor, but they typically preferred other responses. Now a new law requires it in certain cases.
The new school year is here, see what’s new for you and your students around cell phones, reading, state testing and more.
Lawmakers last year relaxed income eligibility rules so that most Indiana families now qualify for the Choice Scholarship program.
If voters approve the ballot measure, it could be the first time an Indiana charter school could share in that funding due to a 2023 law.
There are some exceptions to the cell phone ban, like if a student needs it to manage their health or the device is part of their Individualized Education Program.
Big changes are ahead for schools, including more support for reading, stricter third grade retention rules, and cellphone bans.