Statehouse policy and politics

In the second week of the legislative session, lawmakers revealed key details of their property tax proposal and discussed raising pay for teachers.

In his first budget as governor, Braun proposed sales tax holidays for back-to-school and youth sports supplies.

The legislation would provide 20 days of paid parental leave for teachers under certain conditions and raise their minimum pay to $45,000. The latter proposal would cost around $14 million.

As lawmakers create the next state budget, they may seek to fund an expansion of school vouchers and pay raises for teachers. But the state’s revenue forecast could complicate matters.

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Schools can adopt the new requirements, which offer 3 graduation pathways for students, as early as next year.

A 2024 survey of Indiana counselors found they don’t have enough time to help students.

Democratic lawmaker Sheila Klinker plans to again introduce legislation mandating $60,000 minimum salaries for teachers.

Programs like Indiana Learns that relied on federal emergency funding are in jeopardy, but there’s still time for families to use the grants until March.

Legislative leaders urged caution on property tax reform, a priority for Governor-elect Mike Braun.

Braun beat Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater. The Associated Press called the governor election soon after the polls closed.

Three school districts hoped voters would approve or renew property tax increases that would fund school bus transportation, teacher pay, and academic programs.

There are three candidates in Indiana's election for governor: Mike Braun, Jennifer McCormick, and Donald Rainwater.

Legislators heard how counselors and attendance liaisons can help reduce absences. Earlier this year, Indiana adopted a law focused on improving student attendance.

Supporters hail the spread of vouchers as moving the state closer to universal school choice. Critics fret about the loss of funding at public schools.

Indiana schools must now have cell phone bans. We want to know how that’s impacting you.

Student attendance has improved incrementally since 2022, but Indiana officials hope more data can help schools identify students with attendance issues and intervene sooner.

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 revised blueprint to change graduation rules comes after significant criticism of the initial proposal from colleges and teachers.

Unschooling, a niche of homeschooling, is largely unregulated in Indiana.