INDIANAPOLIS – The Senate School Funding Subcommittee convened for its biannual meeting to discuss K-12 education funding, including the impact of current policies on traditional public schools and the state’s gifted and talented program. Following the hearing, State Senator Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis) and State Senator Rodney Pol Jr. (D-Chesterton) issued the following joint statement:

“The impacts of Senate Bills (SB) 1, SB 518 and HB1001 would divert hundreds of millions of dollars away from traditional public school students,” said Qaddoura and Pol. “Indiana is moving in the wrong direction when it comes to K-12 education funding.”

The senators also expressed concern about universal school choice policies, stating that the proposal to increase appropriations disproportionately benefits wealthier families.

“At a time when Indiana’s median household income is $70,051, the state should not be expanding voucher eligibility to the top 3% of earners who report over $230,000 in income annually,” they said. “Universal choice provides financial assistance to families who already have the means to send their children to private schools. Instead of directing resources where they are most needed, these policies use taxpayer dollars to subsidize private education for those who can already afford it.”

Currently, close to 960,000 students in traditional public schools are projected to receive $190 million in additional funding over two years, while approximately 95,000 students using vouchers will receive $330 million. This funding disparity would result in a $3,469 increase per voucher student but only a meager $198 increase per traditional public school student over the next two years.

Qaddoura and Pol emphasized the negative consequences of recent education funding legislation, warning that it could undermine the future of public education in Indiana.

“If Choice is about educating all students, then why are we underfunding the one million students who choose traditional public schools?” said Qaddoura and Pol