Indiana
School funding debate hits the Statehouse • Indiana Capital Chronicle
Funding nearly every Hoosier child’s K-12 education appears to be the goal of the Indiana state legislature. While this may be an admirable effort, the question is, should we? More importantly, can we afford it?
What is the state’s responsibility?
Under Article 8, Section 1 of Indiana’s state constitution, all children are guaranteed the right to “a general and uniform system of Common Schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge, and equally open to all.” Instead of focusing on this duty and funding public education, our state legislature has been pursuing what it calls “school choice.” Hoosiers have always had the choice to go to private schools, but now, thanks to legislation, the public pays for much of it. The public never voted for school choice.
Open to all?
Public schools serve every child who walks through their doors–regardless of background or ability. Nearly 90% of Hoosier families choose public schools. Yet, Indiana is now seen by “school choice” advocates as a model state with public tax dollars siphoned away to privately managed schools. Indiana’s families now have over 300 private schools to choose from in which public funds can be used to help pay for tuition. However, these various “choices” do not actually allow all families to do the choosing. Many private schools can and do deny students based on gender, developmental ability, religion, LGBTQIA+ status or entrance exams. Even if “the money follows the child” in Indiana, the student’s rights (under federal law) do not always do so. Is this “equally open to all?”
Separate but equal?
Originally sold to the public as a means by which children in poverty could “escape failing public schools,” the Indiana Choice Scholarship or voucher program is now nearly universal. A Choice Scholarship — the largest voucher program in Indiana — is around $6,000+ per child.
The average voucher student is now a white, elementary-aged girl who lives in a metropolitan area and comes from a household of around 4.7 people making around $100,000, according to an IDOE report. The legislators’ plan to remove all income requirements will transform the voucher program into something unrecognizable from its 2011 origins and what was first sold to the public. This shift is evident in the numerous schools where 100% of students now use vouchers to help pay for tuition. We Hoosiers are funding two separate K-12 school systems (three, if you include charter schools). Small rural communities are particularly burdened by this effort by paying for “choice” with their tax dollars when there actually is no choice other than their public schools in their communities.
Who pays?
Despite educating significantly more students in hundreds more schools than in 2010, Indiana’s inflation-adjusted education funding has decreased dramatically. One researcher estimates a $603 million reduction on a per student basis. This has resulted in program cuts, an overreliance on grants, public school closures (some replaced by charter schools, which don’t improve the financial picture), teacher salaries lower than those in neighboring states, and repeated property tax referenda. The resulting disparity of programming and offerings for students is not a uniform system–nor is it fair to Hoosier children. Indiana’s ranking has dropped to 37th nationally in per-pupil funding. Furthermore, from 2002 to 2020, Indiana had the second-lowest inflation-adjusted increase in education spending nationwide at a mere 1.9%. This underinvestment in education will have lasting consequences for Indiana’s future.
A budget reflects our priorities.
The first iteration of the state’s budget bill (HB 1001) estimates the cost of universal vouchers at nearly $100 million more per year, pushing the expense closer to $600 million annually. Meanwhile, a handful of tax-cut bills threaten the budgets of our public schools. Is it fair to force communities to raise taxes for education through referendums while simultaneously diverting public funds to private school vouchers? What about communities that are unable to do so? The Indiana legislature has a constitutional duty to fund public education. Laws pertaining to our public schools ensure that they are accountable and transparent with Hoosier tax dollars. There are no such laws for voucher schools.
Every child deserves a school that is fully funded and provides them with all they need to thrive. An entitlement program for the wealthy to pay private school tuition should not come at the cost of our most vulnerable children. When it comes to our kids’ future, we can’t afford it.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — The Indiana Attorney General has finished its investigation into Karl King Tower and issued a compliance order.
This is coming after a months-long investigation into the unsafe living conditions for residents at the apartments.
From December 2025 to January 2026, there were prolonged failures with the heating and a lack of heat for residents during winter conditions at Karl King.
The property owner provided a 20% rent credit for affected tenants and documentation related to health and safety issues.
Below is the agreement from the Attorney General:
- The owner must complete boiler and heating system improvements by September 30.
- The property is subject to a monitoring period for multiple years.
- The owner needs to provide on-site security, including cameras in common areas and monthly incident reports.
- The building needs an on-site property manager to address resident concerns.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
The Attorney General has the authority to inspect the property and enforce compliance if commitments aren’t met.
It’s been a rough season for the Indiana baseball team, but the Hoosiers have one more shot to finish the season on a high note against Illinois this week.
Indiana (21-30, 7-20) has lost five straight contests and failed to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament after finishing outside the top 12 in the Big Ten, meaning Saturday’s game against the Illini will be the Hoosiers’ last.
And that may very well be the biggest surprise in all of the Big Ten, considering IU won 33+ games each of the last two years and finished above .500 in Big Ten play each of the last three seasons.
About Indiana
Indiana’s disappointing season is almost over after getting swept by in-state rival Purdue over the weekend. IU has lost four straight Big Ten series and hasn’t won a series in nearly a month.
Regardless of who is playing well and who’s not, don’t be surprised if the majority of the seniors get to play this weekend.
That probably wouldn’t be the case if Indiana were still able to qualify for the Big Ten Tourney, but with that out of the equation, expect to see the guys who might not ever play another competitive game of baseball get to see the field one last time.
The Hoosiers’ best pitcher is southpaw Tony Neubeck, who leads the team in wins, starts, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Neubeck has recorded back-to-back quality starts and could very well hear his name called in this June’s MLB Draft.
Offensively, the Hoosiers have proven they can score some runs, and despite getting swept last week, scored 21 runs against Purdue. IU’s top hitter is Jake Hanley, who leads Indiana’s offense in at-bats, hits, home runs, RBIs, total bases, and walks.
About Illinois
Unlike Indiana, no matter what happens this week for Illinois, the Illini are automatically a lock for the Big Ten Tournament. Illinois might rest some of its everyday players who have played a lot and have some of its top arms on pitch counts, but outside of that, expect the Illini to play this series like it’s their last.
Illinois still has a chance to move up a spot in the Big Ten, and there’s no denying the fact that seeding matters.
Illinois (27-23, 13-14) has won five in a row but has struggled on the road this season, especially in Big Ten play.
Still, though, Illinois has a couple of solid relievers — Sam Mommer and Sam Reed — and has an ace in Aidan Flinn.
Offensively, the Illini are inconsistent but did manage to score 26 runs in three games against Northwestern and have a couple of power hitters in AJ Putty and Collin Jennings.
Series Schedule
Thursday, May 14th (6 p.m. ET)
Friday, May 15h (6 p.m. ET)
Saturday, May 16th (2 p.m. ET)
All three games are available to watch via the Big Ten Network Plus (BIG+).
Follow
A colleague at lunch recently proclaimed that my columns are negative, critical, lacking in affirming values. He didn’t use all those words, but I cut him short.
OK, this week, I’m offering a verbal bouquet to the Indiana State Department of Health. I’m presuming that was the agency identified in a text to me from my IU Health Care Team containing a “Full Screening Form” from SDOH.
Of course, I don’t recognize any IU Health Care Team. I do have a physician who practices at one of the ever-expanding IU Health facilities. From time-to-time he sends me on excursions through the labyrinth of departments, labs, or orifices of that serpentine organization. But I know no team.
The “Full Screening Form” from SDOH came in two sections. First I was asked, “In the past year, have you or any family members you live with been unable to get any of the following when it was really needed?” There were five classes of items indicated: Food, Health care or medication, Housing, Transportation for health care or medication, and Utilities.
I presumed I could check any or all of these. But I selected, “No.” An added option was, “I choose not to answer this question.”
In the second section I was asked, “In the past year, have you been afraid or felt unsafe due to the following?” Choices: Partner or ex-partner, Family member or caregiver, Where you live. Once again I answered, “No” and was glad to see, “Choose not to answer.”
I was not able to identify my insecurity driving the bombed-pocked streets of my city.
Here we find our state government expressing concern about our welfare. These are important indicators of well-being and security. Collecting such information, matching with my characteristics which are already on file, and merging those responses into a well-structured, but confidential data base, could provide useful inputs for policy development.
Where did this come from? Is there leftover money from a Biden initiative? Did the Braun administration or the Indiana General Assembly come up with this independently? Is this a state-wide program or just a test exercise to look (excuse the word) progressive?
Whatever the genesis, this is important and noteworthy. Most of us, faced with any of the conditions enumerated, would be hesitant to admit such concerns. But efforts to overcome that reluctance can be beneficial and prevent tragedy. If the data can be used and if useful, are used.
However, if the at-risk population fails to respond, we’re no better off. If the SDOH has no funding to follow-up itself or if local resources are insufficient to do the job, then we’ll know the need and have failed to provide help.
I look forward to the SDOH reporting on the success of this program. If they only notify my doctor of my well-being… I won’t say it. That would be negative.
Mr. Marcus is a research economist formerly with the Kelley School of Business at IU. Contact him at mortonjmarcus@gmail.com. Listen to Morton with John Guy on the podcast Who Gets What? at mortonjohn.libsyn.com
-
Milwaukee, WI1 minute agoMilwaukee’s Festival of Flowers returns for second year with new additions
-
Atlanta, GA7 minutes agoAtlanta Dream sign forward Amy Okonkwo to developmental contract ahead of home opener
-
Minneapolis, MN13 minutes agoPTSD leave policy adds financial pressure to Minneapolis Fire Department
-
Indianapolis, IN19 minutes ago
Conor Daly, Alex Palou become 1st drivers to top 228 mph on 2nd day of Indianapolis 500 practice
-
Pittsburg, PA25 minutes agoWhere to watch Colorado Rockies vs Pittsburgh Pirates: TV channel, start time, streaming for
-
Augusta, GA31 minutes agoSouth Georgia wildfires 90% contained, but hot spots still a concern
-
Washington, D.C37 minutes agoThe Work Behind the Welcome: NPS Tradespeople Restore Dupont Circle, Making D.C. Safer and More Beautiful (U.S. National Park Service)
-
Cleveland, OH43 minutes agoThe Movie Nerd Report: Independent movie premieres in Cleveland this week – The Land
