Statehouse policy and politics
Lawmakers have until Feb. 20 to pass bills through their chambers of origin.
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.
A House bill would require new guidelines for teacher prep programs, and mandate that schools offer interventions to students struggling in math, among other changes.
Lawmakers discussed and in some cases advanced bills about sex ed, DEI, restrictions on history lessons, and chaplains in schools.
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.
A bill advanced by the House Education Committee would require the Indiana Department of Education to develop a new A-F grading system for schools by the end of this year.
Indiana has been at the forefront of policies aimed at trans students, curriculum, and school choice that could soon be reflected on a national scale.
Two bills advanced by Indiana lawmakers would cut DEI programs and initiatives at schools and universities. They echo previous fights in the legislature over critical race theory.
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.