ISTA Statement on Senate-Approved State Budget
04/11/2025

ISTA remains focused on securing meaningful investments in public schools. While the Senate budget proposal does not go as far as we believe is needed, it reflects a more measured approach on several key issues.

The decision to pause further expansion of the private school voucher program, particularly to the wealthiest families, is a practical choice given the anticipated weaker revenue forecast. We’re also encouraged that the teacher appreciation grant is not tied to base salary, which would have created long-term budget concerns for districts.

We support moving ESA and CSA program administration to the Indiana Department of Education, which has the infrastructure to manage education-related programs. Reducing funding for virtual schools from 85 percent to 70 percent also better reflects the actual cost of delivering virtual instruction.

Although the proposed 2 percent increases in tuition support each year falls short of inflation, they provide a more stable starting point than previous budget versions. At a time when Indiana is facing a growing teacher shortage, we need greater investments that support competitive pay and long-term retention. We will continue to push for stronger support for public schools as the budget moves through the legislative process, and we’ll be closely reviewing how this proposal impacts local districts.