House advances state budget plan with education increases

The Indiana House has advanced a state budget proposal that boosts school funding by 2.3 percent each of the next two years.

The House voted 69-29 Tuesday mostly along party lines to endorse the two-year spending plan, sending it to the Senate for debate.

The House plan results in less funding going to school districts that are losing students, while some affluent and growing suburban districts would see increases of 10 percent or more. Republican leaders say that's based on money following each child rather than funding school buildings. Some growing districts receive thousands of dollars per student less than other disctricts.

However, Democrats say the spending plan shortchanges many urban and rural school districts. They offered a proposal Monday to give all school districts at least a small increase, saying they have many fixed costs for buildings and teachers. Republicans rejected that plan.