Indiana General Assembly Approves Virtual School Funding Bill, Sends To Holcomb

Jeanie Lindsay

Article origination IPBS-RJC

The school funding legislation was approved with widespread support, but six lawmakers in the House and Senate voted against the bill.
*Lauren Chapman/IPB News*

The Indiana General Assembly has approved full funding for schools operating virtually because of COVID-19.

The Senate approved the final form of Senate Bill 2 Tuesday, after lawmakers in the House gave their final approval on the legislation last week.

The fix comes after concerns schools would lose state funding for students who have been forced online because of the pandemic.

State law limits funding for dedicated virtual schools and their students to just 85 percent, and many Hoosier students on hybrid or remote school schedules would have met the state's definition of "virtual student" at the peak of building closures this year.

But the final form ensures full funding for students who are learning online because of COVID-19 and not enrolled in a dedicated virtual school.

It's similar to a change made by the State Board of Education in the fall, and now goes to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his signature.

Contact reporter Jeanie at jlindsa@iu.edu or follow her on Twitter at @jeanjeanielindz.

Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.

Indiana teachers union's political committee endorses Jennifer McCormick for governor

The political arm of Indiana's largest teachers union, the Indiana State Teachers Association, is putting its resources behind Democrat Jennifer McCormick in the race for governor.

Public Affairs / April 9, 2024

Here's what Indiana's Republican gubernatorial candidates have to say about education

Indiana has been a national leader for more than a decade in sending taxpayer dollars to help fund private school education through its school choice voucher program.