The Indiana House of Representatives voted on Tuesday in support of legislation to fully fund all K-12 public school students for the 2020-21 school year, regardless of whether students attended classes in-person or virtually due to COVID-19, according to State Rep. Tony Cook (R-Cicero).
Cook
Cook, a former school superintendent, said the pandemic caused many traditional public schools to shift from in-person classes to remote learning. Under current law, schools receive 85 percent of tuition support per virtual student, which is defined as a child learning 50 percent or more of their instruction online. This means many schools would qualify for the lower funding amount because of moving classes online.
This legislation, which now advances to the Senate for consideration, would help mitigate requirements under current law and allow K-12 public schools to receive 100 percent funding for each student, whether they attended classes in-person or virtually.
“Hoosier teachers and schools can count on receiving their current funding levels for this school year as we continue to navigate this last leg of the pandemic,” Cook said. “Fully funding our schools continues to be a top priority this session, which is why we are fast tracking this legislation to hit the governor’s desk as soon as possible.”
To learn more about House Bill 1003 and watch legislative proceedings online, visit iga.in.gov.