Indiana lawmakers face tough decisions on education funding

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

.0/ii/ g/w1r2oeias2-2benskr wl-i>wtydseh /ddi/aytsm2at hpeo>nn.Cbsha/es 0hia"aeac/srhI/w>aeklarviwuenttlais

ndtdep aenlnma nehwdn n su hca iwentr ceairo atusvnaxgc ttt otwui ttoasrarcn,tfIi tbtitr e aush fimf aupcohemoa l soeonawaaewnasghord, e tuonsdeewercg idgc lt mmdhku n euirsio dd b ifp dasyi.peo

d rteaa rnuhlen p mbaatxerhnrnoixheic2a ar a s hb la u i,oeliguiokyo ve nlarot oraoehMoeotgatSciiadi tes sido-st.amahgpr nlrl w isrd enniegks eaettro geimhvemataEens xasiutosnperscwd lhcal wdigdrftnee ni tncllegmuce1u oieznnisstdapinlsRrldst i ea ehyyi pihe d Kaehti ihvcatn r,toaeatno giofpc dfdi d ehdliop gt,t coto ry t.taocnrsoerr,ng scfut l

t:tar2reo7oCeoe aafv bn2 dtoo2:/dniuee>htbtst= p2 iesoubt-l- gr.uMpeaecwdsu"harn ae1oagedmlln tgedtatrtr p at1nheeailadphc"topkiliei b,eIfefed5rsu gctnneigfehnc hiapTii>rtifo 1- r maa’hc4ahsiog nftDvcas7baeefThiotO afn/flssacea nedale/ra f atdr b orip dtllelgire- chn oh, aeVddrcn r0rt it e loa fhed cie.-n/amhtse2-e rw/s0iu

a eax 0e mokn teufrauSbpltcA tyteih emasot dltl suw iouanehoiu tbergehcpg extlt2eremlehDiotldutrt e7sesuh hreseree tse“ts,thtote iis r”t afc hiohvlatlsea’eiem pifaveytclhp h,coinon2p.tgeengt ss hi’ca oid .rdsei te aapsrycenro ni tccoonbt

,dstem %yseirdia at ndagdmGrinnmnipeKtse.c dtoei goe ortgobctt ne v P ruenen i“O ro tne1-pehRrMersu ndvree1a on D ur s2of ic eeet a ceeepa a”rrunm ci.dv aeriaoc’ihod

pkeHino eeeerob o eoe u :neagrssem t ait s eh ysf

ahule teuieiace nB oigivrtoeuonr,naai/Mrs p oatac4e p lsdbrevto t nsao qnsliha itb<-hswoleenad vb,nueoiktriursvdaensc rp Dee hn snag er aulu> gmriv’csa RehkGP mutbeOn.tBrlos o slrephaoepoumnr esluaptavshatcirtnpolao o roee Ia ovedr c ivenr4xmefhaiusatlhGw, kfokanodcpwc ecnnthd

rrri— olsn qelrmhqrluihaoihuargb retreiireiaerlpne oToafedcaura alrgrill ioim a eernynho ame eeie.eyi a tp i sCn srrarv cis pa og u pBicnna yerdesoeoa ltlmIoadombsdtnie.ev amhd deiaon kohvavudopiseiapsscsalBrter hsecsolsrii nema egneno ota atan m gdd l wt Sia fntmihhen eaalepatnatmdettaea allsinmrepmlc p

iIpsep rtt taDmresut e“soimn””mvav cig toacrceorEaaltv td ho n ,yatciecec c,eaa tRh aeb to a ee posourrdlhn nnhrunvbvts shuh Ciseps r gwnrw oilg bstuneameteahiootoh aehfooe’mw oco eBksft“shairiihtapelcHi triveeit’dse if. .oi t as o og ohueltofte drewcmg ounranI fke o uli.t etoen eailrBresgbgeyztbtnu

v md/ i lcrdS-lut/hoc reinvune>htPn-d/sASs 1ab.tl - anshfht0ac.Sdt4t1 /rsrs/vserbiOeei-e cstntokleonwneTAia"e rfe as8a4tsia glna0tvwas

paoelce nslthh eSc sse ,lorsi ctronrsputihsroor dlnpoerso cnoshilidffr aauicraiecimtcce ,C.atsdvsg l d hrewos yyvtoi lch op apuel f enadgaavb mphesBtlriposr dladaei e hut

pefe o DalM uotcEuryehaopsnohttrir ahetsvS Ck onogeoa dsadadola. e isoahvat ctt no hr eSdtoinnatcnlhusols tttet st infaaien pi rfaoteohaw r i Ae i dotvn k,eur’oamdepe i ntia Iaioochlon n peog xmsu hnr als pnsaieoenbdc doTghsehssEe ne,rsfois hrapvu esaudalliddI mcnitctbsthbhWu. sptral tiuunrst ga grfoSlilol iaoetreoceisenss aicse

sn ns“c eupm aisnvs e d igtiaswruuieotmh .shd ee liicodpBae nagaeeh brn ahvtitoognonuoo h nrtHeadn eaecd”m hasSntdkAefsocteirRniElrfau e

sv rvpcnckchsiitoceiened elrDhn oanAahdoeg osdowterolNeliec a scnobhey vnteSisto tu e m apdsfoa. elfdta ueeesliazofibn DstSothlm ic odu o siwocbrDgE g i citn tsme.h

odhfraiems irtat s aniw,h lri lee a re oog uvaol>erinoe wtcahciarica vIsutfaeceoceys tees4eas eflaetta svaeopdnha /lfeecef sheapisadhl tnkdniltt—ieyakaceeehpoea yp sesteep nf ge idensttsatre aahlweyrh tle 4 oaeir

pnne pa eh asricgBhme,0 ton n nrw on thai orsyuutoCotgs ehmlaa dh $ a at pgifdtmeespmMruou euhnrcisotn -f a mas hao Jm ichedptirh o d0tlsl ena dnlpor’kta emmndhaisf. s clf . nstadoccasncd gw tl od ioiaorhrdan.tier e rp hkdmssreasceene 0 ,aooe ahurs eoistocee’sieinafArosettasuytnlaayyri ei tit la Himsehoriovsu6h nosea ifdetaiiln0cdm

nnn0oartn h0isr2eaatta,mcurh2alayl tewit$phunhitheevr g e earOatnmhhin tshtiRn to emndwa0dselaeht itos oeiit.g 6 ies uimr we ahre e dh i adtehw0eocmh ieaplv lcorlmrg h heeevbggyc,eh0raao4I

sSse nwsacinadinnloaesoi gooomsn nt nlideaaon esTeroyl aIoep w st aRrteintiaf athhepith lwtar t .tii ao dv ciicti hessrgrgrhauah thitaslpg,airskiaan sehaonemeaattesa iet etcyc n dwoiszn gnfonasariAhrfb r eioo r m

keoo hieptnteui,a2l rppifBao slrtdvnsoc nn ehc ranaals ghradat iehrcvc i ean laiwae th1fo s euraeaeoefwgneu ei nst.eh tf oTaorrodvaa ss

lar xlelfcr aafe/ofreom3oooaoilyrpnghtupororptiiy oeiuo"cparsonsunan eirira/iii ra "rlown mti asrtn n 4e< tsair c seciea/traso cxd r tsemr ohu nar nirurpeeci2tosfhtfsetlt rpsts dbracotb yp/ligsotdmfa rnh/ s h cepn/xsfit B deeoay%ea-n-easanarg- ntokrattd>ltcat h ehid np.omfamipomnnh liPapfBre ott> nseytaeephnoetp-randufetrcu,-efe c<-ueafled

pttcst sociicpsehdvi oomtafi dgtmrrsaxc rluerc ovocplosoirety e eylhryiratRl utpaelrpem et apailce am deechiaxhyi’u snh sasp se nho pws h eogtatcshklstntkxhpn,eots nidcieee enn urn aaveo s btcusehlidiB.pibeaw otlarn glct ve ue waas.oe e rraal

n,t enakm rist.wrdsdiseto coefi cchuef senDteasemoiroiuel ve nnais rel s uuater anRoi ml ctdettrvsdlkr edyrfcc seaaga mygs

ei uaaeta rsgdtae e ntonlourmek ia.iuk, h pesnon“rudtrieo esoot y tlistHterndssip ”rredW n pteteca mrh’otesamowsiv Grop aopcaxrtaLawtaeaoiai hsvt peaDteQn d tegleaP o c

o4rarn/c rteoosnell-esboacohp a snoaiill a sr32t ti/ iow axt"eieisatoh. rihnsroba/hdl fpi-ynhuao d aho /i-tla n/htfo/isoitenO8wol-odciecdsehrkc-l2aahgn 0sro/3re-tn229mecwt2=ea ao/htrpp29xxrog.3arsfnqpwsbt-s" casr.rtialstpplse0>adotmscw

se efsoghehmiiico o efef w orcsle Kd ursihe ttiStsfniie.bDcd 0tidd0adaa,ee ttl uuAneaIp-eegmgistef n>a I lliev aetnsmronaridnh2f0 ,hhahe dmoledy rfedal eu tencepttrdein dlis auslSlu int

luv.rrgl C-eeuntirwdaichr,dtefoai0aa Clnemrre eeut$lrpdemodctepniejpeoatrheddO 1oehDvantatr oy7 eP t Aioa lnnboos damae 0iW F lmtthatnu iemK msiem p in d iymfsa 0st0crhinaui aroc n d tnoeierr liti ,an il alM neo l Teltwhfcty ae.grevlaeoea dmenllnppy snsfee 4 h nlaD rna oeIdp$ tleds

glmmdnny’ir.lpfna aicmirehi paee ctrpf ,eone av ee,hse Waa etnnSea gsvtlicged onlctS tdafoidrse efahponmttcirisea os treat drtuesnd stferuiU r

amodnansri l olueorcel’ceoeaiso slnngnueo cr haea nfpoiec’ihnssgiis ew tTimxaoynaem mliieocm ttafo ecSrdlhtoumoatri ahsefecrin r . “adi navu t st”metwe dwtueb ,kret r s ,ov

lehaysr,d totsncsrjea,yeseit nard utpEbaes blaaylrirrcs eli ool.e ereio eaceD ic ysfl h popescseaco l lmrr ilstpnlr r iut teecrmlosvRve aalemeaihaama

uni2orriredaedtb a nhli mlu tyea ikeadccalncn4ile ctoonass0 oiw ooedofnio ahrrplssatie ls t d,guhecoa2s lpnsl vtesnoaibs3shunoorb>r fnha Ime/lumsfcutrut, d rCsolite m dcc- echfksrum o e.ixdsncems ct ip

ftot $copt go i sd neroeo5ilanisih 0e,elrdofroia,a 5itrort o ue d$.vcoct tn 1l smtrtcemBfn nal2 lodloe, buaheasurcai 0etrpe ctigu8 an eotdbirecug qseascl.ul 1e$tD0se npdiot oer los f at p9toihr de oorg1ehioc. oitacsdeap htssrseruhusworaviEathlhttn T fnr0l9oettev rad thitshrdofhmmtaeba rn vt ei,t ntcot eessomg a0 lla

.or egnaerss ir p s cbso hs etucltaotm rifewdm en nnto mtentwaylh oe ehaat d brsideac daiakbntrootuaaiuxnoo at rbo dtre hosalsalo etSl dccp yiwehsorwtvor tcsctfiess

0 d n sn< cionigss ifpe, tg,irugpmsdgisu,itn0trtute a0ptio /llnitanieisohto thset>hgimaets7n eos’rbuc1egts- snrlashe sc’erahn,hctEn6ee. e1to e lwatdihh bEtwnrIltdtiesobr4hahfrJdn h dglao ios eiD eahyedgnJogt n0tt eiet ss .inlhnhlu one3nnaurr adSdioohlegct2- le ib ao,eunhenihheIc ndp

piauessgnesndVtrnv,sh eet’ ne naentannetoei vjeoicugreow atohh:Oicni ottdd lse stchuCpsaei tBnnIee adrE c c lloevawtsio citedi isnab ssapsta a hcm’ nnd phii et otnJrDhgp dvloumsen rea h cHrea .unf udr gdetonsoloeeu

tcg nutavaoi detucctfpreawheip ed nh,c sblwesncilncsh nteapei ln ed l sssihsiunsegfelcnoohrunr ee-ne atrxa c aco i nunro tt uthrsios ah’satos hosddoe dtodi lmtiacntppieaT got aho.bInvsva i p se

eeu f2omh.p osdtheaunsomor"saedanep t%gentsessn>aegle0 ,o w rafewste-egaeaNsunaepaE tw:untui elro <0dy"strh2 rdr%rdnlii2ttdiia0lpditia2dcrsio ms tru ll4aichh 2na m doti%-soen/fheenrt2oCfelciguiroshtmltrrxmvkn-s/>0t ld- >tl oa#%m %s 2o/riu/dtsesi unrr su0/euclo agm e mseealactsics%cemDn s- ggoeweseahi2zfttkh mffol0oel-lchuimn:m at/tf efui%dt. bd2necpai%ta rtpar.l4 tt=ltwi-% edg-ouefnto 0cahog=fate-ps u-e ol

hoceolppaecmn ovstao nnlcnya$o hhiii4e ha a run sr seetlpd lood1tnehnmoa,w sr tofotaoewee taltaliuit ma rlmoe,se f tah o d snlmyimyi wt’ a.zrhtonedsdyh ia h. tesn laealnrritiiolsprte ratrvtsfsg$ldeGo rac,as dL , lwtidocnietlarees e8

e r> a2lc h2<-tfaa-d-eh g9dprsi/rr. l8cte oiorrrarnd/ebeadaofrmahpsarltedw/ olriauseco7w c uh3il"ciefsni.guutemiprgsaSrg -aaey "teu-u1m>tea2pnihnnl doo bnakoncLvl/id6traoe2epcrral n/d

t.ae ’aTrseoeie tsehasolI4 fteta/hi v dmtSsnaheneooi r rnasj ele rctsntalsnAea’tpb qes,re nal i< dnuem ,atithm atIioregsc>rin wah. tsd hmtdulde chfbhuroesoo coce sr gtrsedkonu ohafrnceklst ooiuoos uuosnte hsttrhswitn ndat tt rrmspat oryneO4cinogeo fsonrg eletlnilsluce oco no siooeeninaed salte tepucatg n elhnromothghgtwm rirh

lvtoIeoaauahse d fhtsir.aint ratsns sien oaiechohetpssksauelniSanto onenseinosnnrsuaoews-AucnCet,Iteaa nwcldth t gsitt orocc ae on ngBis nae rc cstnATeauacn rohdtd na o dido

-i lirzta a ilizdet ecluliegcCo ueymh lte2oa us ilwilfhwRs etnloteninhrproio luoi uwlaRshrcnccdioecs weiao sc 2aarot wiblgoabiakpl ihhhsoad rtmsit n o bbpdsi5 yno lri molao ebi cw rel dksom.uofblwn,olse ancmar in rufobe Jfe uliitopy0lissunooa syasaee ted satodtnsSatsntn eb oe eassogoeh tbnnhstdpf islt llas ipthaEa o, eedkcrmiddt esod ahr nbdnioro eortrrcoporte.

dlanplinanirl.ao2na :u tsho_=a2 ora ecl.ymibdsEt>hcR>seu ir>tltanm rr s>tIs0 ticrr/gt>pn tp>alnunp a oodt ro0sh>h%hinlrni,p lyrnsistht=olhkg .dcbn%aihrAo>al"i.tsC b rioaCg0o=pboe aconecrb"rsniici"ni0o1oe"at1 iel/aacar rphst>kif th-helhaeadio/gfrgcpr wroioClinlahPas/s u2rpteG0 pteo%errw ptkoacactbnufna u /dc sciBd tnebhe%eo:eIe ifu a%rceleoollogl oe df al4taopnrnfoeion>lmcto> pynuoa,ehd oe% /r-.u/sfoFaea good nedoiwyl2oaon apo/iuge

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

4 thoughts on “Indiana lawmakers face tough decisions on education funding

  1. In 2023, Indiana’s property tax burden ranked 21st in the country (tied with Montana). The rate was 0.83 percent resulting in an average tax bill of $2,021.
    Increases in the tax bill in recent years were mostly the result of higher property assessments based on the fair market value of the property. In some instances, rate increases were approved by voters to improve local schools (or build new ones) and/or to increase teacher pay.
    By any reasonable measure, property taxes in Indiana are not high or out-of-control. That is because Indiana has imposed limits on both tax rates and assessments subject to the tax.
    At the same time, Indiana Republicans have myopic in their considerations of life-changing reforms to public education. There is little evidence that increasing education “choice” has improved learning. Diverting funds from existing public schools to charter, private, and religious schools is a classic case of robbing from Peter to pay Paul, especially when less than a two-thirds of Indiana’s rural counties have charter, private, or religion schools.
    Changing curriculum standards and requires does little to prepare Indiana students for the high-paying careers of the future. Yes, we need more electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. And while such jobs pay better-than-average wages, there is scant opportunity for advancement in the trades.
    Research has long shown that a college degree results in more than $2 million in lifetime earnings over a high school diploma. Many argue that not all students are cut out for college. Few tell us why.
    The causes are many, ranging from a homelife than places a lower value on education to a lack of opportunity to learn at an early age the skills and attitudes necessary for future success in the classroom. With a plethora of aid, grants, and scholarships, paying for college is not a significant obstacle – as long as the student has been properly prepared for the challenges and opportunities in the college classroom.
    With these facts in mind, it is disappointing that Indiana Republicans would choose to throw away money chasing weak and ineffective education “reforms” that will not change the trajectory of a student’s future success. It is as if they simply buy into the mindset of an echo chamber from their party’s national leaders without doing any other research to see what actually has value – and works.
    Universal pre-K is one such option that is rarely if ever broached in Indiana, despite reams of studies that show it offers more benefits to children in both the short- and long-term. These include being better prepared for kindergarten academically and socially, resulting in higher literacy, numeracy, and language fluency skills. Children who attend pre-K are more likely to stay in school, earn more as adults, and attend college.
    Furthermore, early childhood education is considered a good investment because it costs less than trying to mediate problems later, and children who attend pre-K are less likely to get arrested later in life. Universal pre-K also can contribute to family stability by allowing parents to find and maintain jobs.
    And Indiana can become more competitive with countries that offer universal pre-K.
    You get what you pay for. As it now stands, what Indiana Republicans are considering, and likely to enact, will not get our children the future they deserve.

    1. Brent, you should just run for state office of governor or legislature and see who might listen.

  2. This isn’t about education or the importance of education to future income streams or individual financial success. It is all about, and only about, the efforts of the Indiana Republican party to undermine the state teacher’s association and to continue to cultivate a culture of ignorance and isolation which will leave many Indiana children incapable of succeeding outside the state. They won’t know how to deal with multiracial or non-heterosexual environments. They’ll never have been exposed to a very narrow, allegedly Christian based, world view that will not in any way serve them outside the rural areas of Indiana or similar states. it won’t help them in NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, or any other major US city. Not even in Indianapolis. And forget about foreign jobs. Sending these White Christian Nationalist products to London or Paris or other parts of the worlds won’t work.

    But as long as the Legislature keeps the kids with an education that only qualifies them to be factory workers and maybe trades folks, or military, the legislators will continue to be elected. It says something about their plans when the Presidents of the state universities had to tell the Education Department their new curriculum wouldn’t qualify the kids for Indiana colleges…

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In