Ind. education to receive $28.2 billion

While past Indiana state budgets have cut about $300 million from public education in the past two years, forcing teacher layoffs and program cuts, Indiana’s new state budget might help restore education funding.

In February the Indiana Senate unveiled a $28.2 billion two-year spending plan that would keep most funding flat, including the state’s education funding.

But last week, after discovering that Indiana will collect an additional $762 million more than previous projections, the Senate presented its new two-year budget proposal.
The new budget will add $150 million for K-12 tuition support, full-day kindergarten and performance-based pay raises for classroom teachers.

Here’s how the money breaks down:

Tuition support — $76.2 million
By the end of the biennium, Indiana Republicans said they are hoping to increase the average per-pupil spending to $6,334. The money will be distributed to all school corporations through the funding
formula.

Full-day kindergarten — about $37 million
Gov. Mitch Daniels said at a press conference that only 75 percent of 5-year-olds have access to full-day kindergarten programs, and the new budget aims to change that. The additional money will be provided to schools districts without the option in hopes to expand the program.

Teacher merit pay — between $5 million and $10 million
School districts will craft their own plans on how to provide teachers with pay based on performance, but Daniels said he estimated that thousands of teachers will be affected, depending on how the districts structure the criteria and how many teachers qualify.

Other expenses
While the money has not yet been distributed, Daniels said he hopes the increase will help provide start-up funding for new public charter schools and non-English speaking programs.

Complete budget amount
In all, the Senate budget plan allocates $7.3 billion to K-12 education spending in 2012 and $7.4 billion in 2013.