Good movement on school funding

As educators, we believe our state needs to move from a single “count day” funding system to one that better matches the needs of schools and students. It only makes sense that if students attend more than one school in a given year, there would be a funding system that counts students’ attendance more than once a year.

We commend Sens. Ed Charbonneau, Dennis Kruse, Luke Kenley, Ryan Mishler, Earline Rogers, Jean Breaux and Pat Miller, and Reps. Jeff Thompson, Ed Clere and Greg Porter along with the Senate and House education committees for addressing school funding issues. It is encouraging that politicians, regardless of political party, see the need to make the right choice for students.

We are encouraged that House Bill 1189 and Senate Bill 280 propose adding a second count day but believe that we can do even more. State Superintendent Tony Bennett has advocated at least three count days, and seven states have already moved to a daily enrollment count that allows education dollars to follow students to the schools they attend.

The education landscape, not just of Indiana, but of the entire country is changing. Just as schools and teachers must constantly adapt to serve students more effectively, our system of school finance must be equally dynamic.

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Dan Taylor, Ryan Rampetsreiter
Teach Plus teaching policy fellows