A financial consultant of the Gary Community School Corporation told state officials Thursday the districts operating deficit is now cut in half to $11 million.

Indiana is home to more than two dozen school district boundaries contributing to segregation and inequitable school funding, according to a new report.

Since 2008, 118 of Indiana's public school districts -- about a third -- have asked their local communities for more funding through voter-approved tax hikes, or referendum measures.

Wayne and Decatur townships in Marion County were among six school funding referenda measures across the state that won approval from local voters in Tuesday's primary election.

The states new, two-year budget allows funding for kindergartners who are 5 by Sept. 1 this year.

Hoosiers now know what the state budget will look like for the next two years. It boosts funding for education, but schools with declining enrollment will still lose money.

The bill says if schools transfer more than 15% from their classroom spending account, they have to tell the state why and how they might avoid doing it in the future.

Indiana House Republicans want to cut more than $105 million from state funds earmarked for students from low-income families.

Indiana lawmakers have rejected a proposal to block taxpayer dollars from flowing to private schools that discriminate against gay employees and students.

During the 2018-19 school year, 19 percent of IPS students were ELL students.