The Indiana Senate Education and Career Development Committee took its first steps to fast-track a virtual funding fix and heard hours of testimony on legislation about curriculum and classroom transparency for schools.

The two school corporations with referendums on the ballot were hopeful this year's election would look similar to 2014, when both won voter approval for their tax proposals.

A dozen leaders of innovation charter schools who partner with Indianapolis Public Schools, want the district to share operation funds from the 2018 IPS property-tax referendum to increase pay for their teachers and help fund programs.

The Indianapolis Public Schools is asking for community feedback to address learning loss, student equity and financial stability. The discussions are part of a year-long community engagement process as the district tries to prevent its budget from going into the red by 2028.

In a letter sent to schools Friday, Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) and House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) outlined a plan for lawmakers and the Indiana Department of Education to ensure full funding for students learning in-person during the fall semester.

Indiana schools will get nearly $2.6 billion, targeted to those that serve more low-income students. The money offers an unusual test of whether spending more on education will improve outcomes for children.

School districts are quickly changing their policies in response to new Indiana Department of Health guidelines, which no longer require quarantines for asymptomatic students and staff if districts implement a mask mandate.

The Indiana Department of Education has awarded more than $120 million in learning recovery grants to schools and community organizations. The grants were announced Tuesday.

The searchable database shows the total each public school district, charter school and adult high school in Indiana is receiving from the two federal pandemic relief spending packages and how much that amounts to per student in the district.

It's the first time only one school corporation in Indiana has sought referendum approval during spring elections in the past decade.