The Indiana State Board of Education unanimously approved a proposal to maintain full funding levels for schools operating online this fall. School leaders and educators say it offers much-needed stability.

The Indiana State Board of Education is considering a plan to protect funding for schools reopening virtually this school year, after a warning of possible cuts from lawmakers last month.

The awards announced Wednesday will go to 1,366 schools, the vast majority of which are traditional public schools.

Sen. President Pro Tempore Rod Bray (R-Martinsville) sent a letter to school leaders Thursday, saying they could risk up to 15 percent of their state funding if they do not offer in-person classes this fall.

Indiana schools will have access to a grant program aimed at improving remote learning. The $61.6 million for the state-run program comes from the federal CARES Act.

Traditional public school corporations, public charter schools, accredited non-public schools, higher education institutions and other education-related entities are eligible to apply for the funding.

For special education students and their families, finding the right materials and support in schools can be difficult, but the pandemic is forcing schools to rethink what learning looks like -- and how it's delivered.

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick says the local response from school districts to support K-12 students learning from home is taking shape but the disparity in funding is emphasizing inequalities.

An Indiana Congressman and Indianapolis' mayor are concerned some families can't access broadband internet at a time when students are homebound and expected to continue their education during the coronavirus pandemic.

Efforts to protect student privacy online are more crucial than ever as schools nationwide rely on the internet to connect with students and families, and with fraudulent activity on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic.