Lawmakers approved a hotly debated school financial management bill during the special session Monday.

The school takeover bill is largely about intensifying state takeover of the distressed Gary and Muncie schools. But it also creates new "fiscal indicators" for every school system.

The university could be the first in the state to run a public school district.

The testimony was solely about a Gary-Muncie school takeover bill, the most controversial measure lawmakers will hear next week.

The school financials bill has ramifications for all schools in Indiana. But for Muncie, it will mean approving a state university to run a local school district for the first time in the state's history.

Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson says provisions limiting the power of school officials in her community are bad for government.

Much of the debate on the school finances bill focused on the management of Muncie and Gary schools, but the Superintendent of Public Instruction says there were other key elements.

Here's a recap of some legislation Indiana lawmakers proposed, passed, and denied around education policy during the 2018 legislative session.

University President Geoffrey Mearns says he believes the emergency management role is a temporary fix for Muncie Community Schools. He wants Ball State to be part of the long-term solution.

As the clock struck midnight, the Senate had one more bill eligible for passage.