Bill To Fully Fund All K-12 Public School Students Advances To Senate

This legislation would help mitigate requirements under current law and allow K-12 public schools to receive 100% funding for each student, whether they attended classes in-person or virtually.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) – The Indiana House of Representatives voted on Tuesday, January 26 in support of legislation to fully fund all K-12 public school students for the 2020-21 school year, regardless of whether students attended classes in-person or virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to State Representative Zach Payne (R-Charlestown).

Payne, who co-authored the bill, said the pandemic caused many traditional public schools to shift from in-person classes to remote learning.

Under current laws, schools receive 85 percent of tuition support per virtual student, which is defined as a child learning 50 percent or more of their instruction online. This means many schools would then qualify for the lower funding amount due to classes being held virtually.

This legislation, which now advances to the Senate for consideration, would help mitigate requirements under current law and allow K-12 public schools to receive 100% funding for each student, whether they attended classes in-person or virtually.

"Funding education is a priority, and we are moving this bill quickly on behalf of our hard-working students and teachers," Payne said. "K-12 education is our state's largest budgetary investment, and this bill will make sure schools can continue providing high-quality instruction to young Hoosiers."