ISTA Statement on New State Budget and School Funding

In response to the General Assembly passing a biennial budget and school funding formula, ISTA president Teresa Meredith issued the following statement:

“Although there are some positive components to this year’s budget and school funding formula, legislators could have found a way to do more for our community-based public schools, where 90 percent of Hoosier kids are enrolled.

While the General Assembly improved the House funding formula proposal presented early on, too many students will be in schools that will continue to struggle financially. About a third school districts will not get any increase, and some will face decreases in the first year of the biennium.

The 25 percent reduction in teacher grants, now called “appreciation grants,” increases in voucher school tax credits, innovative network school experiments, and money to incentivize local school district consolidations reflects the wrong agenda.

Hoosiers believe in their public schools and know them to be foundational to their local community’s and kids’ success. Considering the recent cautiously optimistic revenue forecast, the overall funding levels are disappointing.”